Шестиклассники из Браттлборо сняли выпуск новостей в местной студии телевидения

BRATTLEBORO — For the past 15 years, Academy School sixth-grade teacher Kyle Hoard has been helping students become informed citizens, confident presenters, and active listeners through a classroom tradition known as the Friday Special Report. Each week, students select a current event or topic that interests them and then research what is happening in the world around them. Rather than creating digital presentations, students design creative hand-made display boards with detailed summaries and pictures. The project encourages students to strengthen their research, writing, organization, and presentation skills while also embracing creativity. During their presentations, students share their findings with classmates, who take notes and practice active listening. After presenting, students challenge their audience with a "Brain Stumper" question based on information from their report, often involving important names, dates, or statistics. The audience then asks the presenter three questions, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding of the topic and encouraging thoughtful discussion and curiosity. Hoard structures the activity as if students are participating in a live television program, game show, or talk show. This engaging format helps students build confidence speaking in front of others while making learning fun and interactive. This year, Academy School's sixth-grade class had the opportunity to bring the Friday Special Report to life at the local BCTV studio. Students visited the station and took complete control of the production, operating cameras, managing lighting, and running the show themselves. Because they had spent the entire year practicing presentations in a television style format, the students stepped naturally into their roles as reporters, producers, camera operators, and hosts. Academy School said the visit served as a fitting finale to the students' final Friday Special Report before graduation, allowing them to showcase the many skills they have developed throughout the year: "From researching current events and presenting information to asking thoughtful questions and working collaboratively behind the scenes, the experience highlighted the growth and accomplishments of Academy School's graduating sixth-grade class."