Young Children - March 2008 - (Page 14) Introduce the newspaper concept to the children Using a local newspaper as a model, explain to the children the different parts, such as the headlines, the articles, and the weather section. Help the children understand why we read newspapers—to learn about what’s going on locally, in the United States, and in the world. Explain that this is why they will make a class newspaper—to tell people what’s going on in their class and in their lives. Display the newspaper template and let the children see all of the headlines. Explain that each headline will need a reporter or pair of reporters and that the reporting jobs will rotate each week so that everyone will have a turn with each job. (Friday afternoon job assignments are much anticipated.) Have all the children write their names on the border of the master template. This will help emphasize that the newspaper is a collaborative effort. Make copies of this signed template to use as the base for the Friday layout of the children’s articles. Show the children the reporting notebooks. Explain the atmosphere you are expecting for the newsroom. Help the children understand that a newsroom needs to be a place where reporters are quietly talking and working. Assign reporting jobs Introduce reporting jobs to the whole class, one each day until you have assigned all the jobs. It’s a good idea to start with math jobs such as “Calendar” or “Attendance” because this information is concrete and easier for the children to understand. During the first meeting, give a notebook to the first child reporter. Tell the whole class to always start reporting by writing the day of the week at the top of the page. Lead the children in discussing different ways that the first reporter can take notes, such as drawing pictures or writing words or sentences Write a letter to families explaining the purpose and process of the newspaper. (even with invented spelling). The child assigned the first job can start reporting in his or her notebook and then later show the notes to the class. Introduce each new job in this same way to the whole class first thing in the morning, during the 20-minute period that will become the regular reporting time. While some children are reporting, others who don’t yet have jobs or have finished can do quiet, independent activities so you can assist children who are still reporting. Create a newspaper at the end of the first week of reporting, even though only a few children have jobs. It’s important for the class to see that they are actually making a newspaper even if all the sections aren’t filled in yet. Write “Coming soon!” under the headlines of jobs not yet introduced. 14 Young Children • March 2008
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