Grant funds help Benndale Elementary students engage in learning through podcasts

Benndale Elementary students have a new and exciting way to learn—podcasts.

Thanks to a $1,000 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Grant from Singing River Electric, 5th and 6th grade students can create podcasts while strengthening their research, writing, speaking, and collaboration skills.

“Many of our students are not exposed to much outside of the community in which they live, so it’s important that I, as their teacher, expose them to as much as I can while they are with me,” explains Jennifer Finley, Benndale Elementary ELA teacher.

Finley is putting the laptop, microphones, headphones, recording equipment, and editing software purchased with the grant funds to good use. The equipment will be used for a weekly classroom news broadcast, book reviews, and interviews. Listening is a key part of language comprehension, and podcasts will enhance the ELA (English, Language, and Arts) class experience.

“Podcasts will also allow students to learn new skills like producing, recording, and publishing,” adds Finley.

For more information on Singing River Electric’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Grant program, visit www.singingriver.com/my-community. The next application deadline is May 12, 2023.

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