Hi there. I'm with Youth Radio Vermont and I'm teaching a class at Winooski High School. I'm having a hard time helping kids understand how to describe the 'format' of a piece. Is it a documentary? A commentary? A vox pop? Does the piece seem to blend different formats? Is it a piece of fiction that someone's read?

Anyway, I know that if we had six straight hours together to listen and respond to radio, then we'd nail these concepts, but since our time is so short and spread out, I'm having a hard time really helping them cement some of these formats in their minds. I'm struggling to help kids understand, and describe what they're listening to.

I have Jones Franzel's most excellent sheet on 'Listening for Elements'. but I wonder if anyone knows of a write-up or lesson that is about piece FORMAT?

Also....if you know of ANYTHING--handouts---that you found really useful when you were first starting out, I'd love to know about it.

Thanks so much,

Erica Heilman