RADIO: This American Life on Middle School

[Ryan Goble]

Is anyone else a massive fan of PRI/WBEZ's radio show "This American Life?" It has been running strong since 1995 and continues to be an American treasure.

I did not catch this episode on Middle School when it was originally broadcast - thankfully these things live on the internet! This is a "must listen" episode for those of you who "teach in the middle."

If anyone decides to use any of these stories (there are six acts in this show) with real, live middle school kids I'd love to hear what you do with them and how students respond.

You can stream the audio for free at the TAL website. You can also purchase any of their episodes at iTunes for $.99. I always recommend downloading the episodes you are using in the classroom. That way you don't have any streaming/connection issues when you're trying to play it for a class. Also, downloaded audio is way easier to cue to specific locations than streaming audio. Either way, their shows are always stunning.

Enjoy!

[Joanna Drusin]

I've used TAL in the classroom multiple times with great success.  The episode "The Cruelty of Children" was especially interesting to discuss with my students, though they found the story "The Man in the Well" extremely disturbing.  As well they should.  I'd love to hear other ways that TAL is being used in the classroom!

[Ryan Goble]

Great to hear there are fellow TAL travelers - I have not listened to "The Cruelty of Children" but in a related story one of my fav. TAL stories to teach with is Act 1 of the episode "Babysitting."

Same idea as your episode and a complex message for kids to think about (not an entirely positive one).

[Susan Nichols]

Awesome!  Thanks for posting this!

[Ryan Goble]

Susan, my pleasure! You will not be disappointed when you listen.

[Deanne McBeath]

I just went to iTUNES and downloaded the MIddle School episode. I love TAL and I teach middle school. I am sure it will be worth 99 cents worth of laughs. I am interested in how teachers use in lesson plans.

[Ryan Goble]

I dunno if folks will get a chance to share lessons here but my MO is always using TALs as supplemental texts around a theme or topic. Then I have them do thinks like the Three for Thinking so they connect the text to other stuff.