As a homeless person (AKA substitute teacher at many schools) I am witness and privy to many ways of "doing" the morning announcements. At one elementary school that is only K-1-2, the P.E. teacher announces over the intercom any news that needs to be shared as well as the pledge and a moment of silence...no video. At the K-3-4-5 school that follows, the media specialist has an elaborate production each morning with a news crew that changes jobs each week. For example, you may be the camera man this week and next week the anchor. I thought this morning show had way too much for students that age, but I was surprised by their abilities to handle it! I agree with a post I just read that this may lead to a less than professional morning show, but think of what the kids learn!!! This morning show has all the typical announcements and each elementary school I have been in does things slightly different. One school I was in, the media specialist was not is charge of the morning show, but I think that is a rarity. My 6th grade son was on the news team last year at his elementary school. The media specialist interviewed the students who applied for particular jobs and then determined who she felt was capable of each particular job. The students then held the jobs she assigned and the teams she assigned for 6 weeks. The announcements were written and overseen by the media parapro and is a live production.
I have not seen much middle school because middle schoolers scare me :) I have been through middle school with my older ones but I did not pay attention...and my youngest is just in 6th grade now. I know they have a morning show everyday and applications and auditions for these positions, but that is all I know. The middle school where my son attends has the students on visually every morning... this is also a live production.
In most of the high schools I have subbed in, the morning announcements come in the form of an administrator over the intercom. He/She leads the Pledge, moment of silence, and various other important activities that need to be addressed. On Fridays is the BIG show. Not live...that would be too scary...but prerecorded...edited...and very good! Students either take a class (some are part of drama class) or are in a club that produces the morning show. This is an elaborate production with acting and skits and a variety of interviews where teachers and students alike are acting silly, but trying to plug whatever activity, club, or event they are promoting. These announcements are really VERY good and I love to have the opportunity to watch them! After my son graduated from High School I even got to see him on the morning show because it was an enticement to get students to buy tickets to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. His band was recorded by students on the morning team and a lip synced version of the song with his band acting silly was shown. This prerecorded tape gets delivered to the media center and is then played to the entire school Each teacher turns his/her TV on in their room to watch the morning announcements and homeroom is dismissed when they are done. These are the only morning announcements that high school kids listen to!!! The only job the media staff has is to play the show...
Friday, October 30, 2009
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That’s a great deal of planning on the part of your media specialist, hats off to her! When I spoke with my Media Specialist she also mentioned that at her prior school, the script was pretty much standard with some of the articles changing. Teachers were encouraged to submit articles for the broadcasts. She also stated that having another staff member work with her was very helpful. I applaud your school for doing the news live! We have in the past pre-recorded special announcements or speeches for student council elections. I would like to start a broadcast at my school but need to start simply and work my way up!
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