I teach primary students (grades K-3) with Special Needs. When I met the fabulous Connectopod team they found a way to help fund bringing their program into my classroom. These amazing ladies came for an hour per visit twice a week for six weeks, and they worked miracles! They got my angry students to talk about friendship. They got my students with Speech issues excited to hear recordings of their own voices. They got my reluctant learners to be proud to memorize and recite poetry. At the end of our time together Connectopod helped my students create a product they could be proud of. In fact, our podcast was even featured on our school website. What an amazing thing for students who are not used to being the ones to shine!
But it doesn't stop there. The fabulous Connectopod team noticed how much one of my students was interested in the recording equipment, and invited him to join their summer program so that he could learn more! This is a program that absolutely goes above and beyond in changing kids' lives.
I have had the pleasure of watching Connectopod go from a committed, sparkle-in-the-eye elevator pitch to a full-on youth communication powerhouse. Partnering Connectopod with our library young adult patrons has been life changing for the teens. Some have taken the skill set they developed over a summer program and used it in their coursework, college applications, and job applications. We will be partnering with Connectopod next year to help youth who would, otherwise, struggle with the completion of class projects. The youth learn how to express themselves in an alternate format.
As powerful as their efforts have been, their work is even more vital as youth struggle to figure out how to communicate effectively during this time of disconnect.