Journalism: Newspaper & Yearbook

My Newspaper & Yearbook staffs are currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. Each staff created a commercial to share with the school asking student to apply. I absolutely love how they turned out so differently!

Your Vote Counts!

I love making my classroom as "hands-on" and "real-world" as possible. Learning should never be limited to the classroom, and students must be taught early in their lives that every aspect of life is a learning opportunity.

With the 2016 Presidential Election season in high gear, it is a key real-world event to bring into the classroom. While many current students cannot vote in this elections, they will be eligible to vote in the next election (2020). I teach eighth graders, so all of my students will be able to vote in the 2020 election. Now is the time to teach their generation the importance of voting and how to understand the issues America is facing. 

With the end of the year approaching, I created a unit centered around the 2016 presidential election where students can hone their debate and communication skills and continue practicing researching and writing. My students sunk their teeth in on day one, and they haven't let go! I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of students who have gone home to continue class discussions with their families and brought back more information and influences. It has sparked heated discussions between thirteen to fourteen year olds! 

We are gearing up for fishbowl debates on Education, Energy & Oil, Foreign Policy, Gun Control, Health Care, Immigration, Social Security, War & Peace, and Welfare & Poverty this week. The unit is for sale on Teachers Pay Teachers (check it out!).