Monday, February 20, 2006
The night before Pasteup and all was quiet...
Tomorrow is pasteup and I am eerily calm. Truthfully, I'm trying not to think about it. Friday went pretty well, so I am hoping the same kind of luck might come through tomorrow too. There are 10 pages to finish. I don't know how many stories are still missing; I don't know how many pictures have not been taken; I don't know how many people are not going to be there tomorrow. On the positive note, I don't know how many pages are ready to be edited; I don't know how many problems were solved without me on Friday; and I don't know how many students will step up tomorrow.
Friday was J-Day, and over all it was pretty successful. I had fun with the staffers, especially those who stayed after school to help get pages 1 and 12 done. I got some neat ideas about how other staffs keep motivated. We might try a deadline chant tomorrow afternoon.
So, with that though, I think I'll get some much needed sleep. Better to face a pasteup fresh than to try to go it sleep-deprived!
Friday was J-Day, and over all it was pretty successful. I had fun with the staffers, especially those who stayed after school to help get pages 1 and 12 done. I got some neat ideas about how other staffs keep motivated. We might try a deadline chant tomorrow afternoon.
So, with that though, I think I'll get some much needed sleep. Better to face a pasteup fresh than to try to go it sleep-deprived!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Hmmm...
I really want to write a lot, but I think I need to take a little break and quietly process. Tomorrow is J-Day and we have to finish pages 1 and 2 tomorrow. We don't have school on Monday, and Tuesday is pasteup. I'm nervous.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Lack of motivation
I came in today ready to go. I called the printer during 4th period and got the price for the Special Issue. (It's the same as a regular issue, even though the paper size is smaller. I don't understand the printer, I think he is a scam artist). I even called Quill & Scroll to make sure I could still send in the contest entries.
I talked to Nick today about changing his behavior. I think it was pretty good conversation too. He was appropriately funny during 7th period today. I also coached a few staffers with their stories. Sarah has a lot of great stuff for the MMI Focus story. Nazneen has some interesting information about the ACT prep course and we worked out how to incorporate her opinion into her column.
However, during the day I couldn't bring myself to do grade meetings. I don't know why I am having such a hard time with this. I think I have an allergy to grading. I just can't seem to get motivated to do it. I've made grading Spokesman about as easy as it gets. I mean, I meet with the staff members to decide their grades. They have a grade sheet that will fill out almost completely before the meeting. It really shouldn't be so painful.
Issue 6
So now we are in a slight panic about issue 6. Pages 1 and 12 have to be finished by Friday evening. That's just three days to complete them. Then we don't have school on Monday. I guess this is where we separate the men from the boys. I hope we have a lot of men on staff.
I talked to Nick today about changing his behavior. I think it was pretty good conversation too. He was appropriately funny during 7th period today. I also coached a few staffers with their stories. Sarah has a lot of great stuff for the MMI Focus story. Nazneen has some interesting information about the ACT prep course and we worked out how to incorporate her opinion into her column.
However, during the day I couldn't bring myself to do grade meetings. I don't know why I am having such a hard time with this. I think I have an allergy to grading. I just can't seem to get motivated to do it. I've made grading Spokesman about as easy as it gets. I mean, I meet with the staff members to decide their grades. They have a grade sheet that will fill out almost completely before the meeting. It really shouldn't be so painful.
Issue 6
So now we are in a slight panic about issue 6. Pages 1 and 12 have to be finished by Friday evening. That's just three days to complete them. Then we don't have school on Monday. I guess this is where we separate the men from the boys. I hope we have a lot of men on staff.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Layout Issue #6
I yelled at Nick today. I had finally had it with his attitude and treatment of others, so I lost it on him. Jake was going over to Debate for the meeting there and Nick made a snide comment about knowing where his priorities are. I did not appreciate a person who couldn't complete his own commitments questioning the motives of someone who never has to be asked twice. He says he was kidding, but he has lost the privilege of kidding around on Spokesman. Until he rebuilds his credibility, he needs to be perfect in his interactions with others and completing his responsibilities for the paper.
After that, layout went pretty smoothly. We have a lot of ads, which is great for the budget but a challenge for laying out copy. The staff did it though. I think they have layed out a pretty solid issue too. The front page has a different look to it than we have had all year. A&E has two solid pages of content. Feature has gone back to the theme page. We even have a plan for the girls basketball team.
Now it's time to put our work where our plan is. I hope we can do it!
After that, layout went pretty smoothly. We have a lot of ads, which is great for the budget but a challenge for laying out copy. The staff did it though. I think they have layed out a pretty solid issue too. The front page has a different look to it than we have had all year. A&E has two solid pages of content. Feature has gone back to the theme page. We even have a plan for the girls basketball team.
Now it's time to put our work where our plan is. I hope we can do it!
Monday, February 13, 2006
A new week, a new deadline
AHH! It is time for layout again already. Things are a bit crazy around room 135. We are trying out a new project: the special issue.
We had our meeting this afternoon and they decided on a topic: The Student Body. We also got a tentative deadline for the pasteup. I think if they stay committed, this could be pretty amazing.
Tomorrow is layout, so that is creating a little tension around the room. I'm not sure where people are with their stories. Diane sat down with me today to work on her movie review. That made me happy, but not nearly as happy as when Krissy sat down with her and helped her improve "her flow." Nothing makes me feel better than when they help each other to do good work. I wish there were some magic button I could press to make that happen more often.
We're still having problems with attitude around the office. I think there is a lot of immaturity on the staff. That's the only explanation I can come up with as to why they treat each other so badly for no reason other than to make oneself feel better.
We had our meeting this afternoon and they decided on a topic: The Student Body. We also got a tentative deadline for the pasteup. I think if they stay committed, this could be pretty amazing.
Tomorrow is layout, so that is creating a little tension around the room. I'm not sure where people are with their stories. Diane sat down with me today to work on her movie review. That made me happy, but not nearly as happy as when Krissy sat down with her and helped her improve "her flow." Nothing makes me feel better than when they help each other to do good work. I wish there were some magic button I could press to make that happen more often.
We're still having problems with attitude around the office. I think there is a lot of immaturity on the staff. That's the only explanation I can come up with as to why they treat each other so badly for no reason other than to make oneself feel better.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Moodle...
We started Moodle today. So far so good.
Rachel had the best reaction. "Really?" while her eyes popped wide open. She has every right to be excited because now the computer will tabulate Bests for us. No more sitting and counting for hours for her.
I posted a few forums as tests to see how it goes. I figure we'll reevaluate at the end of this issue. I hope they like it. I figure I can post the final exam stuff there and deadline calendars too. I just hope it's useful and doesn't become just one more thing for technology's sake.
Today is also the second deadline. It's not looking a whole lot better than the first, but there are a few bright spots. Tami got an interview with Ed O'Neill at Forest View. I think that's her first "real" interview all year. She's been writing briefs all year because they are easy. I'm really proud of her for challenging herself. And Elizabeth is being very helpful and patient with her too. I think it will be a good experience for both of them.
Sarah is having a good issue too. Not that she's not struggling, but it is a struggle that will make her grow. She is reporting on the MMI program at WHS. She has observed for two days and today she is interviewing the head of the program after school. We looked through her questions and she is very prepared. I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Finally, there is Elizabeth and her debate story. After waiting to talk to the coach because she was getting conflicting ideas from two team members, she finally sat down and interviewed the coach today at lunch. She walked into the English office practically jumping up and down as she walked. The interview went well. She's going to the tournament this weekend to observe and she is excited about it.
One other big thing happening in the journalism world is the IHSA Journalism tournament. I started picking the team today. So far, everyone I have asked seems excited about it. I was a little worried that a journalism team would be too far over the geek cliff for them, but they seem to be excited to compete with others who do what they do. That, and I think they are ready for some recognition.
Rachel had the best reaction. "Really?" while her eyes popped wide open. She has every right to be excited because now the computer will tabulate Bests for us. No more sitting and counting for hours for her.
I posted a few forums as tests to see how it goes. I figure we'll reevaluate at the end of this issue. I hope they like it. I figure I can post the final exam stuff there and deadline calendars too. I just hope it's useful and doesn't become just one more thing for technology's sake.
Today is also the second deadline. It's not looking a whole lot better than the first, but there are a few bright spots. Tami got an interview with Ed O'Neill at Forest View. I think that's her first "real" interview all year. She's been writing briefs all year because they are easy. I'm really proud of her for challenging herself. And Elizabeth is being very helpful and patient with her too. I think it will be a good experience for both of them.
Sarah is having a good issue too. Not that she's not struggling, but it is a struggle that will make her grow. She is reporting on the MMI program at WHS. She has observed for two days and today she is interviewing the head of the program after school. We looked through her questions and she is very prepared. I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Finally, there is Elizabeth and her debate story. After waiting to talk to the coach because she was getting conflicting ideas from two team members, she finally sat down and interviewed the coach today at lunch. She walked into the English office practically jumping up and down as she walked. The interview went well. She's going to the tournament this weekend to observe and she is excited about it.
One other big thing happening in the journalism world is the IHSA Journalism tournament. I started picking the team today. So far, everyone I have asked seems excited about it. I was a little worried that a journalism team would be too far over the geek cliff for them, but they seem to be excited to compete with others who do what they do. That, and I think they are ready for some recognition.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
It's all about me
Usually I try to focus on my students' work in the blog. But today, I'm feeling like I'm a little short on my offerings to Spokesman, so I'm going to unload.
I haven't started grade meetings yet. I had scheduled to start them Tuesday. It's Wednesday evening and I haven't finished one yet. I've edited four pages of issue 5, but by the schedule, I should be done with all 12. I don't really know what my problem is.
It's not that I don't want to discuss the issue with my students. There are lots of good things to talk about and even the not-so-good ones are going to offer good discussion about journalism and creating a quality paper. I'm just not calling the students in to do the meetings.
Yesterday I didn't call them in because they were working on deadline #1 and a little frantic. That, and I felt a certain relief that I had an excuse not to call them in. I am ready to do Rachels' and Elizabeth's and even Marie's. But I didn't call them in today either.
On a positive note, I did create a nice lesson to teach the Journalism 1 kids objectivity. I made a PowerPoint and found a suitable version of the Three Little Pigs. It was fun. I also learned how to work Moodle, the opensource version of BlackBoard. I have a pretty neat idea on how to use Moodle in Spokesman to tabulate bests. That's what I want to spend my time on.
Okay, I think that's enough unloading of my thoughts for now. I think I'll go work on Moodle for a bit and then edit some pages.
I haven't started grade meetings yet. I had scheduled to start them Tuesday. It's Wednesday evening and I haven't finished one yet. I've edited four pages of issue 5, but by the schedule, I should be done with all 12. I don't really know what my problem is.
It's not that I don't want to discuss the issue with my students. There are lots of good things to talk about and even the not-so-good ones are going to offer good discussion about journalism and creating a quality paper. I'm just not calling the students in to do the meetings.
Yesterday I didn't call them in because they were working on deadline #1 and a little frantic. That, and I felt a certain relief that I had an excuse not to call them in. I am ready to do Rachels' and Elizabeth's and even Marie's. But I didn't call them in today either.
On a positive note, I did create a nice lesson to teach the Journalism 1 kids objectivity. I made a PowerPoint and found a suitable version of the Three Little Pigs. It was fun. I also learned how to work Moodle, the opensource version of BlackBoard. I have a pretty neat idea on how to use Moodle in Spokesman to tabulate bests. That's what I want to spend my time on.
Okay, I think that's enough unloading of my thoughts for now. I think I'll go work on Moodle for a bit and then edit some pages.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Term 3, Week 3 - Deadline 1
Sarah said it best. The photo meeting today at 3 p.m. was a photo meet. Adil had Karolina sign up for photos before she ran out with her friend. Adil met with Shivali and Devi during 7th period to have them sign up for photos and to explain the new photo assignment sheet. He met with Hillary during 5th period to decide what kind of photo assignments there should be for the issue. And we wonder why photos are always disorganized.
Today was also deadline #1. The proximity of today to the distribution of Issue #5 caught many a staff member by surprise. Most of the copy that was actually turned in today was lists of interview questions or pages of research. Hopefully they will not be so surprised on Thursday, the 2nd deadline. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
So I am still in the process of combing through Issue #5. I am pleasantly surprised by what I am finding. There are so pretty good interviews and stories mixed in with the space filling stuff. I will start grade meetings tomorrow, so we'll see what the staffers think of their own work.
Today was also deadline #1. The proximity of today to the distribution of Issue #5 caught many a staff member by surprise. Most of the copy that was actually turned in today was lists of interview questions or pages of research. Hopefully they will not be so surprised on Thursday, the 2nd deadline. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
So I am still in the process of combing through Issue #5. I am pleasantly surprised by what I am finding. There are so pretty good interviews and stories mixed in with the space filling stuff. I will start grade meetings tomorrow, so we'll see what the staffers think of their own work.
