Real Voices. Real Issues.
Community Review for Radio Rookies
My Take
What I like about this site is that is contains youth produced radio documentaries. It asks the students to think about: What do I think about this issue? What has been my personal experience with this issue? What about my experience leads me to agree or disagree? The answers to these questions lead nicely into a unit on argument writing. The site is also organized by topics such as search by topic such as dreams, education, family, loss, race, violence, sexuality, all issues that are relevant and meaningful to students today. I also like the resources for educators such as information on how to report a story,or how to teach interview skills.
How I Use It
My students create an imovie documentary in which they narrate the experience of a fictional immigrant whose character they create. To help them make this person as realistic and believable as possible, I plan to play them the recordings from students who recount their own immigration experience. We will explore those aspects of recording that are compelling, emotional,vivid, etc, paying particular attention to how the reporter added sound for effect, which my students will have the option to do. I will also use this site to help students select a topic for their argument essays. Often students have difficulty coming up with a topic to write about. This site has several podcasts on a variety of current topics that students can explore.