Ask Someone Ask Someone Who’s Been Who’s Been Through ItThrough ItLizabeth Walsh, MJELizabeth Walsh, MJEReno High SchoolReno High Schoolewalsh@washoe.k12.nv.us www.lizabethwalsh.weebly.comwww.lizabethwalsh.weebly.com

6 parts to advising6 parts to advising Learning the basics of journalismLearning the basics of journalism Teaching in the classroomTeaching in the classroom Grading and holding kids accountableGrading and holding kids accountable Dealing with financesDealing with finances Interacting with othersInteracting with others PolicymakingPolicymaking

Where do I go to learn Where do I go to learn more?more?

Textbook(s)Textbook(s) News UniversityNews University Kent State onlineKent State online JEA ListservJEA Listserv University summer University summer

classesclasses Reynolds Advisers’ Reynolds Advisers’

InstituteInstitute Your new staffYour new staff

ASNE & hsj.orgASNE & hsj.org Other advisers in your Other advisers in your

areaarea Yearbook company Yearbook company

repsreps J.S. Printing helpJ.S. Printing help SPLCSPLC Summer camps from Summer camps from

companies and private companies and private individualsindividuals

How did you get How did you get involved?involved? Attended a JEA convention Attended a JEA convention

Went to summer camp (good & bad)Went to summer camp (good & bad) Let my kids run the book (good & bad)Let my kids run the book (good & bad) Attended another 3 JEA conventionsAttended another 3 JEA conventions Got a job that included newspaperGot a job that included newspaper Practically memorized the textbookPractically memorized the textbook Attended another 4 JEA conventions - I Attended another 4 JEA conventions - I

taught classes and judged the write-offstaught classes and judged the write-offs Finally got the courage to take my CJE Finally got the courage to take my CJE

exam & passed! exam & passed! Instead of renewing, got my MJEInstead of renewing, got my MJE

Anything you’d do Anything you’d do differently?differently?

Purchasing journalism booksPurchasing journalism books Getting critique books/formsGetting critique books/forms Trading for Crown and Pacemaker books & Trading for Crown and Pacemaker books &

newspapersnewspapers Asking for GOLD / All-American pubsAsking for GOLD / All-American pubs Sending in our publications for critiqueSending in our publications for critique Shadowing other advisersShadowing other advisers Taking journalism courses for master’sTaking journalism courses for master’s

What do you suggest for What do you suggest for the classroom?the classroom?

Even though it’s different, it has to be Even though it’s different, it has to be kind of the same as other classeskind of the same as other classes

LOTS of guided practice requiredLOTS of guided practice required Small group workSmall group work Large group workLarge group work Individual meetings during seatwork timeIndividual meetings during seatwork time Peer tutoring or peer mentoringPeer tutoring or peer mentoring

What should I teach? (YB)What should I teach? (YB) History of the school (History of the school (yearbook as history bookyearbook as history book)) Law & EthicsLaw & Ethics InterviewingInterviewing PhotojournalismPhotojournalism Design & Visual PackagingDesign & Visual Packaging Preparing for writing (the writing process)Preparing for writing (the writing process) Concept development (theme, angles, design)Concept development (theme, angles, design) News writingNews writing Feature writingFeature writing Sports writingSports writing Advertising development & salesAdvertising development & sales

What should I teach? What should I teach? (NP)(NP)

History of journalismHistory of journalism Law & EthicsLaw & Ethics Current EventsCurrent Events Interviewing & information gatheringInterviewing & information gathering PhotojournalismPhotojournalism The writing process (developing ideas thoroughly)The writing process (developing ideas thoroughly) News writingNews writing Feature writingFeature writing Sports writingSports writing Opinion writingOpinion writing CartooningCartooning Design & Visual PackagingDesign & Visual Packaging Advertising development & salesAdvertising development & sales

What should I teach? (J1)What should I teach? (J1) History of journalismHistory of journalism Law & EthicsLaw & Ethics Current EventsCurrent Events News writingNews writing Feature writingFeature writing Sports writingSports writing Opinion writingOpinion writing CartooningCartooning Design & Visual PackagingDesign & Visual Packaging InterviewingInterviewing PhotojournalismPhotojournalism The writing processThe writing process

Yearbook as history bookYearbook as history book News magazineNews magazine Art/literary magazineArt/literary magazine Broadcasting (Broadcasting (tv, radio, etc.tv, radio, etc.)) Web page useWeb page use PodcastingPodcasting Twitter, etc.Twitter, etc. ConvergenceConvergence Desktop publishing Desktop publishing

program(s)program(s) Advertising development & Advertising development &

salessales

How should I teach?How should I teach? Plan units thoroughly-Schedule time to Plan units thoroughly-Schedule time to

present new material in small chunks, let present new material in small chunks, let students digest material (students digest material (guided practiceguided practice), ), have students present back to you with have students present back to you with explanations (explanations (independent practiceindependent practice))

Use a calendar (give to students)Use a calendar (give to students) Create practice situations for every type Create practice situations for every type

of thing they may publish later BEFORE of thing they may publish later BEFORE making them do it for realmaking them do it for real

How should I teach?How should I teach? Webquests, student projects, etc.Webquests, student projects, etc. Student research is excellent methodStudent research is excellent method Ask students to teach chapter material to Ask students to teach chapter material to

each other/ small groups/ entire class.each other/ small groups/ entire class. Create assignments with purpose- how will Create assignments with purpose- how will

they apply it in the real world?they apply it in the real world? Have students play with programs as much Have students play with programs as much

as possible.as possible. Differentiated instruction for some conceptsDifferentiated instruction for some concepts

Where do I find Where do I find materials?materials? JEA bookstoreJEA bookstore

Other teachersOther teachers Yearbook publishersYearbook publishers National, regional, state, local National, regional, state, local

conferencesconferences SPLC (legal matters)SPLC (legal matters) NSPA “the wheel”NSPA “the wheel” Hsj.orgHsj.org

What about the perfect What about the perfect grading system?grading system?

There is no perfect system! Sorry.There is no perfect system! Sorry. Classroom participation (daily work)Classroom participation (daily work) Homework (ad sales here)Homework (ad sales here) Assigned projects (actual student work)Assigned projects (actual student work) Quizzes and tests (Quizzes and tests (formative & summativeformative & summative)) I use C=30%, H=10%, A=40%, Q=20%I use C=30%, H=10%, A=40%, Q=20%

Tell me more about gradingTell me more about grading Describe precisely what you want the Describe precisely what you want the

results to be (RUBRICS)results to be (RUBRICS) Rubistar4teachers.orgRubistar4teachers.org Class expectations and guidelinesClass expectations and guidelines Parent and student contractsParent and student contracts Consider re-taking opportunities for Consider re-taking opportunities for

quizzesquizzes Be sure to use formative & summative Be sure to use formative & summative

evaluation for lesson adjustmentsevaluation for lesson adjustments

Tell me more about gradingTell me more about grading Editors have separate tasks, so their Editors have separate tasks, so their

grades are determined differentlygrades are determined differently Staffers can be evaluated partially by Staffers can be evaluated partially by

editors (once they are trained)editors (once they are trained) Staffers should be able to give feedback Staffers should be able to give feedback

regarding editors and working regarding editors and working relationshiprelationship

Editors should be able to accurately self-Editors should be able to accurately self-evaluate.evaluate.

What do I do differently for What do I do differently for staffers?staffers?

Set clear expectations & goals early.Set clear expectations & goals early. Check on each person in a one-on-one Check on each person in a one-on-one

meeting meeting yourselfyourself at least every other at least every other week.week.

Do not ever accept delays or excuses: Do not ever accept delays or excuses: “I’ll have it tomorrow.” or “It’s at home.” or “I’ll have it tomorrow.” or “It’s at home.” or “I e-mailed it. What? You didn’t get it?”“I e-mailed it. What? You didn’t get it?”

Be firm & just (not fair).Be firm & just (not fair).

What about the money?What about the money? Biggest reason advisers are firedBiggest reason advisers are fired Sometimes HUGE accounts $125K+Sometimes HUGE accounts $125K+ Ask what the admin’s expectations areAsk what the admin’s expectations are Ask where money comes fromAsk where money comes from Ask where money goesAsk where money goes Ask who has purchasing controlAsk who has purchasing control Ask about deposit & payment proceduresAsk about deposit & payment procedures

Tell me more about Tell me more about money.money.

Start early.Start early. Find partners in school or community.Find partners in school or community. Stay on it all the time.Stay on it all the time. Have several small goals & multiple ways Have several small goals & multiple ways

to reach them.to reach them. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Don’t make money you can’t keep.Don’t make money you can’t keep.

How do I deal with…?How do I deal with…? Administration: find out what they want, share Administration: find out what they want, share

what you want, come to agreement.what you want, come to agreement. Supervising administrator: meet early in year, Supervising administrator: meet early in year,

share standards you are meeting, invite them share standards you are meeting, invite them at specific times to evaluate you.at specific times to evaluate you.

Parents: Send home notes or call or use Parents: Send home notes or call or use website re: Open House, special parent website re: Open House, special parent meetings, POPS, chaperones, etc.meetings, POPS, chaperones, etc.

Other teachers/coaches: Establish positive Other teachers/coaches: Establish positive relationships early on.relationships early on.

How do I create policies?How do I create policies? NSPA’s “The Wheel”NSPA’s “The Wheel” Other advisers in your areaOther advisers in your area Other schools in JEA/NSPAOther schools in JEA/NSPA How would you want to be treated if you How would you want to be treated if you

were on the other end of the policy?were on the other end of the policy? Obituaries, advertising, photo ethics, Obituaries, advertising, photo ethics,

quotes-what we will/won’t print, group quotes-what we will/won’t print, group photos, school photos, coverage, photos, school photos, coverage, sensitive issues, mission statement, etc.sensitive issues, mission statement, etc.

Anything else?Anything else? Investigate master’s program or graduate Investigate master’s program or graduate

credits in journalism.credits in journalism. Ask lots of questions of any of us Ask lots of questions of any of us

journalism nerds.journalism nerds. Look into certification- it can be valuable Look into certification- it can be valuable

when dealing with administrators and when dealing with administrators and others (CJE & MJE)others (CJE & MJE)

What else would you like What else would you like to know?to know?

Here’s the part where you get to ask your Here’s the part where you get to ask your advising questions advising questions

ewalsh@washoe.k12.nv.us www.lizabethwalsh.weebly.com (775) 813-0000(775) 813-0000 Friend me on Facebook- Lizabeth WalshFriend me on Facebook- Lizabeth Walsh