Success with Podcasting in READ 180!

I spent a lot of time reflecting and thinking on how my students could use podcasting. We recently started our writing section of our workshop on Disasters and without fail, just like every other time I mentioned "writing" the ENTIRE class smacked their gums and a wave of "AH, Man's" flooded the room. My 8th grade boys despise writing the most.

This past week I gave a mini lesson on podcasting, Gabcast and how we could record our writing, book responses and reviews right from MY cell phone. "Cell phone? Did I say cell phone???" Now I had their attention! I reminded them of how proud they had been of themselves after we went through the writing and editing process and published last workshops expository paragraphs on Immigration and its effects on their neighborhoods. One of my students in particular suprised himself the most.

As I was reminding them of this very moment, it was his eyes that lit up. I went out on a limb and I asked my 8th grade, 200+ lb, football player if he would record his previous writing and be our first "episode". Luckily, he agreed.

He reviewed his writing, rereading and practicing in his best fluency (mind you these are all level 1's, 2's and low 3's in reading). He then picked up my cell phone, dialed the gabcast number, entered our user name and then recorded his paragraph. It all took less than five minutes!

I reminded the class that when we published our work before, only the class was able to benefit from it. Now, not only can the world appreciate their hard work, but they can comment on it as well. They loved this "new" form of literacy! Seconds later I heard, "Can I podcast too? Can I publish my paragraph?" What a motivational tool!

I plan to continue podcasting as my classes tackle writing narrative paragraphs on their experiences with extreme weather! I can't wait! New channel coming soon! Until then...listen to our first episode.

Gabcast! Expository Paragraphs #2 - Expository Writing on Immigration in Greensboro, NC