Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011

Fifth-graders Morgan Gaines and Alyssa Nguyen are among the first Sandersville students to record podcast book reviews, which will be posted on their school library's website. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

Young readers at Sandersville Elementary will share critiques of favorite books in podcast reviews posted on their school library’s website.

“Other students will listen to these books and if they like it, they’ll check it out,” said fifth-grader Alyssa Nguyen, one of the first on board with the new STLP project.

Kids don’t have to be in the Student Technology Leadership Program to contribute, according to club adviser Jenny Knight. She already welcomes a handful of enthusiastic students during her planning hour and at recess, and is optimistic that more kids will join in.

“We’ll tell our friends, and they can come record with us,” said fifth-grader Morgan Gaines, who just reviewed “James and the Giant Peach.”

Knight, who is in her fourth year teaching in Fayette County Public Schools, came up with the idea of podcast reviews through her own class work; she is completing her master’s in instructional technology.

“There are so many obvious connections in technology and math, but you don’t use technology as much in reading and writing,” she said. “I wanted it to be natural. This is a perfect way. The kids are interested in this technology so they want to read more.”

The students use a program called Audacity, a free download, with a headset and microphone plugged into the computer.

“They can listen back to what they’ve reported. They’re in charge of listening and editing and making sure it’s what they want it to sound like,” Knight said. “It’s more of an independent learning. I model and show them how to do it. They go with it and practice on their own.”

One day recently, Morgan and Alyssa teamed up to record a couple of reviews. Referring to their handwritten notes, the girls took turns at the keyboard.

“It’s like just talking to somebody once you get the hang of it,” Alyssa said matter of factly.

She offered up a review of “The Meanest Doll in the World” as an example, saying she would recommend the book to readers who like fantasy or ghost stories.

“It was kind of funny but at the same time scary,” she said.

Recording a podcast review is similar to writing a book report. As Morgan explained, “We talk about the author, the main idea and the setting.”

For now, the students select their own topics. Mostly they are sticking to fiction.

“It’s all up to them – whatever books they’re reading and whatever they’re interested in,” said Knight, who also allows them plenty of creative leeway.

“I gave them examples of what to write down for the review, but I’m not editing what they’re writing or what they’re going to say,” she said. “I’m giving them their freedom.”

As budding critics, it’s important the students realize they need to support their opinions. And through the podcasts, they also practice persuasive writing.

The girls are confident their efforts will help fellow students who wander among the library stacks looking for a good read.

“Some kids are having trouble picking out the books they want,” Morgan said. With the podcasts available online, “they’ll know what the book is about before they check it out.”