Do you remember finding the one class or activity at school that you looked forward to every day? My broadcast team loves what they do, but have to perform with outdated and worn-out equipment and even make do without the right tools for the job.
If you have ever met a middle school student, you know they aren't the easiest to motivate, especially where going to school is concerned.
The Cougar News Network is a team of middle school students dedicated to producing a TV news show for the entire campus. They arrive long before school starts to set up our "studio," which is really a corner in my classroom. They broadcast during Homeroom and manage to take down the studio before 1st period begins. They're eager to learn and always striving to do better. They aspire to be young versions of the daily news anchors and producers they watch on the networks. They enjoy the notoriety it brings on campus but there is no compensation for their effort. We are not a class, but more like a club.
My Project
The specialized equipment we're hoping to receive will provide the professional quality audio necessary to give our audience an enjoyable viewing experience. The new microphones and cables will take us from home-movie-like, barely audible, breathy static to polished, skilled, and newsworthy voices. This is just the thing we need to feel confident when we submit a portfolio of our work to the local Student Education Video Awards.
Ever witness a child, who is excited about something they just produced, and watch their joy turn to despair when they realize their efforts were for nothing?
My students ride such an emotional high after each show and anxiously wait for The Phone Call. It’s a teacher in another classroom calling to say there was too much static to be heard or there wasn’t any signal at all. And yet, they come back the next morning to do at all over again.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Palmrose and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.