Mic Check: Finding Your Voice Through Podcasting: A Middle School Curriculum By The Sneaker Principal

Mic Check: Finding Your Voice Through Podcasting is a groundbreaking middle school curriculum designed to amplify student voice through the art of podcasting. Created by The Sneaker Principal, this 10-12 week program blends media literacy, storytelling, and social-emotional learning into a culturally relevant, project-based experience that meets students where they are–and empowers them to go even further. More than just a how-to guide, this curriculum is a call to action for educators to center youth voice, nurture identity, and cultivate leadership through digital storytelling. With ready-to-use lessons, rubrics, templates, and celebration tools, Mic Check makes it easy for teachers to launch a classroom podcasting program that engages every learner–whether as part of an elective, afterschool program, or advisory. Inside, you’ll find: A five-unit structure moving from identity and voice to editing and publishing Step-by-step session guides and flexible pacing Student-friendly templates and tech integration tips Real-world publishing and promotion tools Reflection, celebration, and community-building components Born during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sneaker Principal Podcast began as one voice seeking hope–and became a platform for many. Now, that same spirit fuels this curriculum: to ensure that every student has a mic, a message, and a moment to be heard. Whether you’re a veteran educator or just pressing record for the first time, this book equips you with everything you need to help students speak up, sound off, and lead through their stories.