“What is your favorite breed of moose?” Interesting questions filled the amphitheater last week as fourth graders interviewed Upper School Sports Broadcasting students as a part of their writing curriculum. “We decided a couple of years ago that we could tell them about interviews, or we could actually let them do it,” explained Fourth Grade Teacher LaDonna Whitney. “Having our own broadcast director and team didn’t hurt, so we reached out to Bryan Eubank, and he gladly offered his assistance. He came and talked with the kids and demonstrated a real interview, allowing them to practice. My class then came up with a list of questions to ask. We loaded up, clipboards in hand, and met to “interview.”
All of the fourth grade classes complete interviews with the Upper School students. “We aren’t sure who gets more nervous, our fourth graders or the high schoolers,” Whitney commented. After the interviews, students return to the classroom to write about the person they questioned in the style of a newspaper biography. Finished copies are delivered to Sports Information Director and Voice of the Raider Network Bryan Eubank, who shares the articles with his students.
“It is a class favorite each year,” said Whitney. “It teaches them lots more than writing. We talk about eye contact, greeting others, respect, overcoming nerves, communication etiquette, proper spelling, grammar, and writing style. It is also nice because they see that there really isn’t a big difference between themselves and a ‘big kid.'”
“One of my favorite things about JA is that K3-12th grade is all on the same campus, leading to opportunities for the older kids to connect with the younger kids,” said Eubank. “We started this activity a couple of years ago with the fourth graders and the broadcast class, and both classes love it. They learn how to prepare for an interview and the confidence to talk to someone much older, and by the end of the process, they get to know each other better.”
