Third-Grade Students Go Virtual For Journalism Lesson

The Port Jefferson Elementary School has been working on incorporating technology into the classroom as an additional teaching tool. This past week, the third grade students were able to take advantage of Skype to speak with Kathy Leon, an anchor for SNN Local News, in Florida. 

The point of the virtual connection was to allow young students who are interested in becoming journalists or writers to speak with a professional and not limit them to someone in New York.

Before the virtual meeting, students watched a 15-minute DVD that was created for the students by Leon and offered a tour of the studio, what it looks like behind the scenes, and gave the students a real insiders look into the world of production. After viewing the video, students were then asked to formulate some questions they would like to ask Leon live. 

During the webcast, Leon explained the importance of what it means to be a journalist and gave students tips. “The news never stops,” Leon said on the district's website. “It’s important to make sure that you always answer the ‘who, what, where, when, why and how’ in a story.”

The district said Leon detailed her daily activities on the job, explained the difference between news anchors and reporters, the various genres of news and shared how she selects what stories to cover.

Additionally, Jackie Gandolfo and Nancy Winkler-Brogan, the teachers heading the lesson, plan on having their students go out in the field and report back on a current event or news item in their town over the next couple of months. 

“This is a great learning experience that incorporates Common Core reading, writing, speaking and listening standards,” said Winkler-Brogan on the district's website. “Students will be using information gained from text to demonstrate their understanding. They have been gathering and taking notes from print and digital sources, sorting evidence into provided categories and will eventually be reporting on various topics, recounting an experience with appropriate facts and relevant details.”