In our afternoon session I picked up some really helpful tips for my newspaper and journalism classes. The one exercise I know I will use is the story mapping. My newspaper students have trouble narrowing the focus of their story, with this exercise we can keep their broad idea but focus on a student or local issue. We can use this exercise after our brainstorming day.
Another issue we come across in newspaper is relating national stories to the school. My students want to write about Haiti, the economic situation and even celebrity stuff but our principal usually censors these stories saying, "They just don't relate to the school."
With the mapping exercise, we can discuss the large topic and narrow it down to relate it or show how this impacts students in Keller. Our group had the foreclosure crisis and we came up with so many interesting story ideas that would work in our school newspapers. Here is a picture of Cindy sharing her group exercise. I think this will really benefit the students and help with writing and finding a focus for each story.
Kat Gurganus
Keller High School
Keller, TX
I agree! This will be a great tool to focus brainstorming sessions. As Steve pointed out- those can be so counterproductive! This blog will become a record of our time here together. It will be great to compile all of memorable quotes and activities into a challenging program for my student journalists. Each of you has given great insights into the material we have covered so far!
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