I was approached about teaching Newspaper at the beginning of the year and I was terrified. I have approximately one semester of News 1 at Independence Community College under my belt. That’s big time news. I did editorials and sports. Ms. Thomas said I was too wordy. I’m sorry I can’t explain things in under 800 words! Get a bigger page!
That to say… I’ve come to enjoy Newspaper. I have a motley crew of good writers and nappers. It’s just how the game is played (so I’m told). I do what I can with what I have. I have an editor who is graduating and doesn’t do anything but help pass out the paper on Fridays (more on my editor). I have a co-editor who makes the paper what it is. I have a handful of writers who like getting down to the nitty-gritty. And then I have those who begrudgingly hand me copy on Wednesdays and slowly type their stories. What we have done, together as a unit, is transform the Bethel newspaper into something people actually look forward to. We have pictures, polls, real news, Bethel goings-ons, and even a coloring page on the back! We will certainly not win any awards any time soon, but our production is neat and tidy.
My editor and co-editor are passing out this edition: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
We still have a lot of errors and we need to figure out a template that works a little better. But when the English teachers, the principal, the secretaries, and the librarian all look at you and say “You are doing such a good job with the newspaper,” you just want to sit in that glory for a moment…
MK
Mrs. Mac's Classroom 