Vocabulary Words

Our administration requires a vocabulary quiz be given in each subject area at least every two weeks.  My Taylor (now Balfour) Publishing kit came with a Periodic Table of Yearbook chart.  Each "symbol" on the chart is linked to a yearbook term, i.e. Ed=editor.   It lists key journalism terms that make great vocabulary words.  Plus, it was fun to see the staff guess at the word for each symbol on the chart.

I suggest contacting your Taylor rep or calling the company directly to acquire one of these posters.  At the least, it is a great conversation piece for your wall.

Editorial Flow Chart

This idea was not an original.  I've been using this flow chart concept so long,  I can not remember where it originated.  The chart below is one I set up using In-Design.  It is a simple, effective way to teach beginning journalists how to organize their thoughts before writing an editorial.


Editorial Flow Chart

Killing a J-program

 A former student of mine, who happens to be the assistant editor of a nationally circulated magazine, sent me the link to this article.  It is a sad truth, or half-truth, in the world of journalism.  Please read and respond to Mr. Bugeja and to the University of Colorado at Boulder. 

 Inside Higher Ed

Parent Organization

Years ago I created a POPS (Parents of Publications Students) program for my staffs.  Parents would sign up and bring brownies and pizza on deadline night or help chaperone trips.  It was a great way for those PTA moms of the past to feel as if they were still contributing to their teenagers lives.

Now, that POPS organization has developed into a series of email contacts.  We still do snacks on deadline night, but with one email I can ask a parent to secure a donation (one hooked us up with a TV to raffle off) or ask a parent to pick up t-shirts for us when no one could meet the shirt guy.

Open House or Parent Teacher Night are perfect opportunities to secure email addresses and provide a sign up sheet for parent helpers.

If you don't have a parent support group for your staff, get one now.  I use mine as professional development experience.  Our state requires a certain number of parent involvement hours per year, so this is a great way to successfully reach out to parents while fulfilling a state department requirement as well.

Now, we also have FOPS (Friends of Publications Students).  These are the kids who always hang out in your room, but aren't in your class.  They love to be included.  Now my FOPS have a place, too.

Yearbook Sales Promo

Turn your theme into a marketing experiement.  Have the students create a marketing package around the book's theme.  Design t-shirts, posters, business cards, etc...using the theme graphic and colors to promote the sale of your book.  My Yearbook I class developed and implemented a marketing campaign.  Below are photos of the concepts they developed and the materials they created.

We saved the promo until the night of open house at our school.  When the parents arrived, the yearbook staff had hung posters and splashed the school with neon colors in flyers, posters, etc...to represent the theme. 

Students designed and created their own t-shirts to carry out the theme.  Shirts were worn the day of open house to alert students on campus that books were now on sale.  Each shirt had a unique design, but kept the neon colors and the words "Ask Me About The Yearbook" were written in paint pen on the back for unity.

Poster

Business Cards


T-shirts

Flyer