Lakeview Primary second graders in Ginny Gray’s gifted class have taken a step into the news world.
According to Gray, 20 students meet weekly to prepare and produce a news segment for Lakeview Primary. Her students created a green screen to be behind them, work the camera, write the script, run the teleprompter, and work as anchors on the news.
“We have five teams with four students in each that alternate every two weeks to run the news,” said Gray. “Each student also switches jobs to be able to experience each part of the process from being a technician to being an anchor.”
Gray felt the activity would be a good way for students to hear news from their peers and build confidence in her students.
“Our students discuss a range of things on the segment each week from a joke of the week to vocabulary of the week and the general weather. They write the script and I type it for the teleprompter, so it’s all created through their personalities and interests,” said Gray. “The kids have even started giving each other cues unprompted as they learn the process. And they really enjoy it.”
Gray’s class tapes its show on Tuesdays and Lakeview Primary Principal Dr. Tracy Clark releases it each Monday for the school to watch.
“Our other students really enjoy hearing from their peers, and we hear them talking about seeing so and so on the news or talking about being a TV star,” said Gray. “The entire Lakeview Primary community gets involved through conversation and interest in what my students are doing.”
While the segments are not currently posted publicly, the school, with permission from parents, is discussing potential ways to allow parents to view the news in a safe and secure way.
“I’m talking with Dr. Clark and with our Director of School and Community Relations Meghan Nugent on how we could release the segments and ensure they’re secure. So, at this time I can’t say if or when they may be published,” said Gray. “However, the students will continue publishing these segments for the entire school year for our students to enjoy.”
News is critical for both staff and students and for building skills such as confidence, writing, vocabulary, reading, and technology skills, which are all important to the future of each child.
“It has been a successful venture and I’m excited to continue to watch them develop their news show,” said Gray.