Several years ago, I attended the ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Institute and came away with a plan to expand and grow our journalism program. At that time, I was the yearbook adviser and wanted to not only improve the yearbook, but revamp our struggling journalism program that includes newspaper, yearbook and literary magazine, as…
Help your student photographers improve with plenty of practice and informal and formal critiques When it comes to photographers, it can be hard to know how to help them grow and how to keep them motivated. There is no panacea. Trust me, if there were, I’d have bottled it and sold it for some serious…
Whether your yearbook is organized in traditional format, chronologically or a combination of the two, an effective beat system ensures complete coverage throughout the year. Spice up beat selection by hosting a draft day to motivate your staff to get off the sidelines. Collaboration tools such as Trello can take beat management and communication on…
That first deadline can be one of the most intimidating parts of an adviser’s first year. Follow this advice, including words of wisdom from a few experienced advisers, to successfully meet it. Make it a priority Take deadlines seriously – especially this first one. Start planning right away, if you have not already begun. Talk…
“Suzy, you are going to be the academics editor of the 2018 yearbook.” These words strike pride, excitement and dread into academics editors across the country. Why? Let’s explore that for a few minutes. Yes, you have a great responsibility. You are in charge of a portion of the book. Yes, a portion that could…
In a professional development class called “Universal Design for Learning” (UDL), I was introduced to many new strategies to make learning accessible to all my students regardless of ability. One of the strategies is called “synectics,” which derives from the Greek “syn” and “ektos,” and refers to the fusion of diverse ideas. In practice, students…
With the school year well underway, your yearbook staff needs strategies and inspiration to make this fall productive and… fabulous. Lucky for you, the fall 2017 issue of Idea File magazine is here to provide the help you need. Take a look at the entire issue in our Idea File gallery. Be sure to check…
