News in the Middle

Our language arts program needs to improve their use of writing for different purposes, audiences and across the curriculum. In the initial stages of the newspaper, language arts teachers would assign a particular writing assignment: persuasive, entertaining, informative, etc. The students would be allowed to submit their writing to the newspaper if they felt it was worthy of publication. A newspaper staff comprised of 5 students from each grade would accept articles submitted by students in their grade. The staff would screen each article to determine if it is acceptable publication material. As the newspaper gains popularity, there would be topics published by the newspaper that the students would be allowed to write about and submit their articles. The newspaper could also be used as a teaching tool in the classroom for English and reading activities. Middle school students are interested in what their peers are involved in and they would become very intriqued by the opportunity to interact with the whole school through this publication. As interst grows the students writing skills will improve because they will want their best work to be viewed by their peers. All students reading skills will be exercised.
All language arts teachers, chapter teachers and special education teachers would have the chance to encourage their students to participate. After teachers collect the students submited work, they would give it to the newspaper sponsors. There needs to be at least two newspaper sponsors which would be language arts teachers. At our school it would be one 6th grade teacher and one 8th grade teacher. The 6th grade teacher would be responsible for 5th and 6th grade articles and the 8th grade teacher would be responsible for the 7th and 8th grade articles. These sponsors would meet with the newspaper staff during a designated time every week to publish the paper. Computer classes would have the opportunity to help type the articles if necessary. Publication would take place two times each semester. With the use of digital cameras, pictures could be submitted by teachers.