Sunday, October 22, 2006
Intervention
It's Sunday night, and I realized that I have not updated my Spokesman blog in several days. So tonight's entry is going to be a highlights entry of the last week or so.
I think I'll go in reverse chronological order. Let's start with the fieldtrip to the KEMPA conference at UW-Whitewater.
Mrs. Gruen, the yearbook adviser, and I took a total of six students to the conference. We made our traditional stop at the Starbucks in Lake Zurich. I love that stop. I don't know why, I just do. Anyway, we made it to the conference just as it was starting. Luckily, Sandy made it into the yearbook competition in time to complete her spread. Everyone else made it to opening sessions in enough time to get something out of them. Overall, the day went well. I think everyone is coming back with at least one idea to improve the paper. It always brings me joy to see the staffers get excited about an idea. I think this time the story ideas Diane got stick out the most. I also got an idea on how to sue color more effectively. I can't wait to show the staff the Northern Star tomorrow. Wow, what a great design.
On a downer, Spokesman didn't earn ALL-Kempa this year. However, I am not that disappointed since only 4 papers earned that award and one paper that didn't earn ALL-KEMPA is a Pacemaker Finalist. So, I am chalking the lack of awards up to an off year of judging by KEMPA. We did get a very useful critique back, and that makes me happy too.
So KEMPA was Friday. Thursday was Deadline Intervention Day. And to be perfectly honest, I think we needed a WHS intervention day on Thursday. There was an air of tension and stress that was choking the entire building. I have never seen so many of my colleagues as well as students as upset as on Thursday. So when Elizabeth came in 7th period upset about her stories, I called for a deadline intervention. Basically, I had the entire staff stay in the classroom while we methodically when through everyone's troubles and came up with ideas to solve them. We talked about Elizabeth's stories, then went on to Claire. I also was on the prowl all hour checking on people. By the end of the period, I think most people had solutions and drafts for the deadline as well as being much happier. If nothing else, me sounding like a fanatic made them feel a little better.
I have also tried to be a much more interactive adviser this week. I made it a point to try to have a conversation with every student every day about their stories. I was not completely successful, but I think I touched base with everyone at least once. I hope this was as much of a help to them and making deadlines as I think it was. Although there were still several stories not turned in on Thursday that I know were able to be turned in. The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" never seemed so true.
I'm behind on grade meetings. I got three done early in the week, but with the fieldtrip on Friday and trying to manage deadline work on Wednesday and Thursday, not too many are completed. I'm hoping that I can finish most of them tomorrow and Tuesday, if not all of them.
Okay, I think that catches me up except for Spokesman stars for two weeks ago. Elizabeth gave me the sheet, but I think I left it on my desk at school. I'll get those on here tomorrow.
For a finishing touch, here are a few photos from the U of I fieldtrip two weeks ago. Enjoy!
I think I'll go in reverse chronological order. Let's start with the fieldtrip to the KEMPA conference at UW-Whitewater.
Mrs. Gruen, the yearbook adviser, and I took a total of six students to the conference. We made our traditional stop at the Starbucks in Lake Zurich. I love that stop. I don't know why, I just do. Anyway, we made it to the conference just as it was starting. Luckily, Sandy made it into the yearbook competition in time to complete her spread. Everyone else made it to opening sessions in enough time to get something out of them. Overall, the day went well. I think everyone is coming back with at least one idea to improve the paper. It always brings me joy to see the staffers get excited about an idea. I think this time the story ideas Diane got stick out the most. I also got an idea on how to sue color more effectively. I can't wait to show the staff the Northern Star tomorrow. Wow, what a great design.
On a downer, Spokesman didn't earn ALL-Kempa this year. However, I am not that disappointed since only 4 papers earned that award and one paper that didn't earn ALL-KEMPA is a Pacemaker Finalist. So, I am chalking the lack of awards up to an off year of judging by KEMPA. We did get a very useful critique back, and that makes me happy too.
So KEMPA was Friday. Thursday was Deadline Intervention Day. And to be perfectly honest, I think we needed a WHS intervention day on Thursday. There was an air of tension and stress that was choking the entire building. I have never seen so many of my colleagues as well as students as upset as on Thursday. So when Elizabeth came in 7th period upset about her stories, I called for a deadline intervention. Basically, I had the entire staff stay in the classroom while we methodically when through everyone's troubles and came up with ideas to solve them. We talked about Elizabeth's stories, then went on to Claire. I also was on the prowl all hour checking on people. By the end of the period, I think most people had solutions and drafts for the deadline as well as being much happier. If nothing else, me sounding like a fanatic made them feel a little better.
I have also tried to be a much more interactive adviser this week. I made it a point to try to have a conversation with every student every day about their stories. I was not completely successful, but I think I touched base with everyone at least once. I hope this was as much of a help to them and making deadlines as I think it was. Although there were still several stories not turned in on Thursday that I know were able to be turned in. The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" never seemed so true.
I'm behind on grade meetings. I got three done early in the week, but with the fieldtrip on Friday and trying to manage deadline work on Wednesday and Thursday, not too many are completed. I'm hoping that I can finish most of them tomorrow and Tuesday, if not all of them.
Okay, I think that catches me up except for Spokesman stars for two weeks ago. Elizabeth gave me the sheet, but I think I left it on my desk at school. I'll get those on here tomorrow.
For a finishing touch, here are a few photos from the U of I fieldtrip two weeks ago. Enjoy!
