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"I Believe" Podcasts
By Allie Hersh
So often in seventh grade, kids are told where to be, how to act, and what to believe. At this critical time in adolescents' lives, their description of self begins to include personality traits ("I'm an artist") and attitudes ("I don't like stuck-up people"). Capitalizing on budding identity formation and providing them with an outlet for their voices to be heard was the basis for the “I Believe” podcasting project.
Following the NPR model of the “This I Believe” series, we listened to many published essays. We analyzed the pieces in terms of structure, imagery, anecdotal evidence, and emotional appeal. We also investigated the published essays as grammarians, discovering the impact of a simple sentence versus the lyrical weight of a compound-complex sentence. Students recognized that the a reader’s voice—be it gravely, high pitched, timid or bold—contributes to the emotional impact of the content.
Seventh graders trudged through all steps of the writing process to produce their essays: they made lists of everything in which they believe (and don’t); they used Inspiration to make webs of ideas—connecting and grouping personal anecdotes and universal implications; they wrote the first three paragraphs and received teacher feedback; a few kids even changed topics (from squashes to chess, from cows to coaches); they wrote the first draft and received more teacher feedback; they emailed me drafts for even further guidance; they peer-reviewed; they self-reviewed; and, after about two weeks, turned in final drafts.
The process was still not over! Once the essays were finished, Jason Stone stepped in. Together, we taught the kids how to record their piece on Garage Band, sequestering them in a room with headphones and microphones. They recorded with focus and glee, stopping every so often to edit out pauses and stumbles. Meanwhile, those who wanted were searching for music to record underneath their voices as bed music. Many asked for advice with the music selection. I had the pleasure of introducing one seventh grader to Depeche Mode, another to Bjork.
Mr. Stone, Ms. Macy, the seventh graders, and I invite you to hear the beliefs of seventh graders at San Francisco Day School: girls questioning society’s standard of beauty (Jacqueline, “I Believe in Donuts” and Caroline, “I Believe in Make-Up Remover); art as a key to survival (Johhny, “I Believe in the Blank Page” and Claire, “I Believe in Art”); transformation (Eli,“I Believe In Tape,” Aidan, “I Believe in Storms,” and Hannah, “I Believe in Phoenixes”); and the comfort of every day objects (Niko, “I Believe in Rocks,” Sami, “I Believe in Tea with Milk and Sugar). These essays don’t necessarily contain flawless editing and sophisticated vocabulary. They don’t necessarily sound professionally recorded. But I believe they authentically reflect the hearts and minds of the writers— seventh graders. And I believe in them.
Listen to the "I Believe" podcasts online.
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