group of 5th Students at Flagstaff’s Marshall Elementary School anxiously await the announcement of this week’s winners of NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge.they are one of the youngest of the five playersth annual contest. Teacher Katie Krause created his podcasts area in the classroom to help kids get creative. She spoke to KNAU’s Jillian Ferris about the next generation of podcasters and their projects.
GF: So this is clearly the podcast area.
KK: Yes, this is the podcast area. With 27 of her students here, it’s really hard to find space. They put the iPad inside these little boxes with foam inside. Sometimes the mic works, sometimes it doesn’t. They have been through a lot! It may need to be held properly for it to work.
GF: Now let’s talk about podcasts. I have had the opportunity to hear through them. it was fun! I love all of these podcasts, they’ve been great.
KK: I would say that poetry has stanzas, chapter books have chapters, podcasts have segments. So I created a template that breaks it down in terms of segments and transitions. Fifth graders often talk about backing up their opinions with evidence-based research. We discussed the importance of not only having their own voices heard, but also including other perspectives and opinions to support or not support the podcast. They really took the initiative and went looking for an interview. they went beyond that.
GF: One of the podcasts touches on inclusion, which is a very important topic, especially in schools. Can you talk about how the team brought this issue to life in a podcast?
KK: Well, their category was talking about community. And these two girls of hers, like the other students, came up with this idea all themselves. This idea was so inspiring about the importance of inclusion and why diversity is so important in classrooms and school communities. Their story was entirely from a child’s point of view. I just love creativity. Her two other girls chose to do their own thing which was very creative. Their categories were things parents don’t know and things parents want them to know.
GF: What about calling your brothers bad?
KK: Yes, and you could be blamed if your brother was the one who did it.
GF: What really struck me from an audio standpoint was the kid playing the significance of the break and coming out in this dramatic opening.
KK: That’s my friend Tate. He wanted to talk about the importance of break time and explain why it is important and should continue after middle school.
GF: So they must be pretty excited because the winners will be announced soon.
KK: They’re really excited. They ask me everyday! Well, it’s a national competition, and the categories range from 5th grade to 8th grade, so it’s a very wide range, and I’m the lowest grade in that age group, so it’s hard. So I said to them, no matter what happens, just be proud of yourself for choosing to take the risk and make your voice heard. Because we have a story to tell, and this is the next generation. Whether they win or not, it’s them. It’s all about taking that risk and showcasing their voices and stories.
GF: Well, good luck. Hope everything goes well.
KK: Thank you. Thank you.
