Thanksgiving Break

Grades are almost set. There is one big assignment left. I asked to students to work towards conducting and writing a newspaper article about Zane. The idea was presented in late September and is one that I referred to frequently this trimester. The idea/assignment was as follows:

1. Come up with an idea for a newspaper article about an aspect of Zane Middle School.
2. Write a lead paragraph about said subject.
3. Create a list of 3 people to interview about the story and create at least 5 questions to ask each subject. 2 of the 3 interviewees needed to be adults.
4. Conduct the interviews and record the responses.
5. Craft the article using the quotations from the interview subjects. The final article should be 3 paragraphs of at least 5 sentences each, and should include quotations.

This is due no later than after-school on Monday Dec. 1. It is a 50 point assignment.

Wed. Nov. 19

Today students worked on the extra credit photoshop tutorials. 

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Today I had a substitute teacher. Students worked on photoshop tutorials that came with the program. 

Friday, Nov. 14 and Monday Nov. 17

Friday: I reviewed my expectations for the interviewing assignment and told students that they needed to have the interviews completed by the end of school on Monday. Students finished the Halloween yearbook spreads. 

Monday: I checked off the students who had conducted their interviews and they will begin writing their news article tomorrow. Students  who had not done the interviews yet worked on a different assignment to get partial credit. Interviews need to be completed to write the article which is due on Friday. It will be an important part of their grade. 

Thursday, Nov. 13

Students continued on the Halloween spreads. Interviews need to be completed by Monday at the end of the school day. 

Wednesday, Nov. 12

Students are working on the Halloween photo spread for the yearbook. I also passed back the interview questions each student generated for the news article they'll be writing about an aspect of Zane. They are to conduct 3 interviews of at least 5 questions. 2 of the interviews need to be conducted with adults. Interviews need to be completed, and responses recorded by the end of school on Monday.

Friday, Nov. 7, Monday Nov. 10

Friday: Students worked on a "light blast" effect using photoshop. 

Monday: Students worked on their first yearbook "spread." They are creating a 2-page spread about Halloween using the photos that were taken on Halloween. 

Wed. Nov 5 and Thurs. Nov. 6

Wednesday and Thursday: Students worked on creating a promotional sales poster for the yearbook. 

Tuesday, Nov. 4

Today the students who had completed their presidential issue posters presented them to the class. Some students chose not to present, or were not prepared and took an F on that portion of the assignment. 

Monday, Nov. 3

Today students got a look at what assignments they still needed to turn in and worked to do so. Tomorrow the presidential issue presentations will occur for those groups who are ready. 

Friday, Oct. 31

Students finished and handed in their Halloween images. Issue presentations will be on Monday and Tuesday. Students need to turn in written scripts of what they'll say prior to presenting.