By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Students at Union City Elementary School are rarely encouraged to “Speak up” or “listen up” anymore.
The installation of audio enhancement systems in all but a couple of classrooms has greatly aided both students and teachers in the essential learning process at UCES.
The amplification aid has proven effective at improving basic speaking and listening skills in several systems around the country and has drawn positive reviews from teachers and administrators at UC Elementary.
First-grade teacher Angie Conley says her students particularly enjoy using the microphone component during random reading sessions. Students take turns under Conley’s guidance, passing the microphone around the room after reading from their decodable readers.
“It helps them sound out letters and words and keeps them engaged,” insisted Conley, who wears a smaller amplifier around her neck that allows students to hear her better while allowing her to be mobile around her classroom. “It makes them want to read even more, and it seems to help them follow along when others are reading, too.
“And as far as my amplifying device, the kids really seem to benefit from that — no matter where they sit — and they’ll remind me to turn it on if I forget.”
UCES Principal Allison Palmer spoke glowingly of the surround-sound system.
“There’s no question it helps with lesson delivery, and both our students and teachers love it,” she said. “For our teachers, it saves their voices so they can still be effective when they might not be 100 percent. And the kids love getting to use the microphone. Some teachers are using that as an incentive in their lessons.”
A handful of classrooms at both UC Middle School and UCHS are also equipped with the amplification system, and Director of Schools Wes Kennedy said the long-range plan is to have the service in every classroom on all three campuses.
“It’s the wave of the future, and if it enhances the chance of classroom effectiveness for our students and our teachers, we’re going to try and make it happen,” claimed Kennedy, who said the system-wide cost would be ‘around $200,000.’
“We’ll move our focus to the Middle School next and then work our way through the High School.”
Conley – echoing the sentiments of her fellow teachers – said: “We’re blessed with an administration and school board that provides us with everything we need to succeed and excel in the classroom at Union City Schools.”