While school news is something my principal is interested in having at some point in the future, we do not have it currently. So for this assignment I spoke with Ginny Walker, the media specialist at a local elementary school. Mrs. Walker daid a news broadcast is aired daily. Fourth and fifth graders are involved in the broadcast. The students are selected based on teacher recommendation and tryout. The students anchor the live broadcast on a rotation schedule. They use a powerpoint as the script which is updated daily. At times the powerpoint is shown and not the anchors. The students do special interviews and spotlights on teachers and students. The show commericals that have been pre-recorded or a CD for a fund-raiser. Daily features include a joke of the day, character education, school song, lunch menu, class perfect attendance, regular announcements and special announcements.
The broadcast sponsors are non-homeroom teachers, who teach extension and discovery. They rotate also with the students.
The school has a nice setup and some interesting features such as the interviews and spotlights. Our school has not had interviews with the morning news. Our students were selected based on our teachers recommendation as well. The media specialist made a form for the students to have the teachers complete. It was the students' responsibility to get the form completed and turned in by a certain date to be considered and well as a parent's permission form. I also like the commercial that was pre-recorded. Our media specialist and the technology speciailist are the sponsors who prepare the script for the students.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a pretty cool system. At my school, we have a system that is very similar, except for the interviews. We also film things in our classrooms and tape advertisements, etc. before hand that we insert into the news as well. We have time for the pledge and the mission statement as well on the announcements. Our media specialist and clerk are the sponsors for the "media club."
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the commercials that promote fundraisers. Also these commercials could be used to promote upcoming activities. Our elementary school has a basketball team so the commercials could energize the students to attend the games and show school spirit. Our school has several extracurricular activities and these commercials could promote participation in all of the activities. This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an organized and fun system. OUr school has similar segments, but I wish we could do more and involve the students more. Some students would really shine and learn by using comercials and PowerPoint. Our school hopes to begin broadcasting on media cast and using the "on-location" cart. Our media specialist has also been sensitive to not asking the teaachers with homerooms to conduct the news show. There are two teachers without homerooms that are the regular hosts. Thanks for the comments and ideas. I hope we can adapt some of those for our school in the future.
ReplyDeleteMy mentor’s school use to have a morning news program that was put on by the GATEWAY students. The program was done once a week and they would include the pledge, announcements, weather, and then the students would do a little skit. The program would last 20-25 minutes. My daughter was a part of this program and she really enjoyed it. When the GATEWAY teacher retired no one took over the news program. Unfortunately no one wants to take on this task which is really sad because I believe this could be a great way to reach out to the student body and to help them have a stronger connection with the school. Yes, it takes a little time to produce but you could share so much information with the entire school by doing it. I like the idea of doing interviews and informing every one of fundraisers, and encouraging school spirit by announcing all of the upcoming group or sports events. There are so many things that can be done with a news program.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a news program in an elementary school. None of the schools I have worked in or interned in had a program on the elementary level. Doing a quick daily show for announcements, lunch choices, pledge, ect. is a great way to involve students visually instead of just over the intercom. My school does not have a program and I think some of the reason is we have a "cottage" of 10 classrooms (2nd grade and gifted) that do not even have TVs. I like the idea of the program being put on by a media club with sponsors. This is more similar to how it is done in upper level schools I think.
ReplyDeleteThe elementary school that I mentor in also has a great setup for school news TV. The students have been taught how to run the system, and can, for the most part, run the show on their own. This is great in that it is their own project in which they can take charge. The students do cycle out which gives everyone a fair change. I think that this is an important factor so that everyone who would like to be an "anchor" can.
ReplyDeleteBy Cecilia:
ReplyDeleteYour school’s approach to the school news is very similar to our Morning News Show at my school. I like how the extension and discovery teachers sponsor your program; we don’t have this aspect. I’m sure that this helps keep them and their students active in the school community and helps them maintain a strong connection with the rest of the school. Our show is run solely in the media specialist’s domain. It’s a huge responsibility! Fourth and fifth grade volunteers act as the anchors. Sometimes those in other grades will appear, like a kindergarten class singing a song. Serving on the show is viewed as an honor and helps cement school spirit and unity. It’s also another excellent way to promote the media program!