"Nothing exciting happens" or "Reagan is boring" are the three that make me bonkers. Our school has an attendance of about 3,000 students and active participation in over 100 different clubs and organizations, varied athletics, career and technology and fine art programs. In addition, there are 200 teachers, administration, and auxiliary staff. My students are well-adjusted, have great social skills, and work quite hard when they feel motivated to do so are.
Students only think nothing is happening because I tell them they can't interview buddies as story sources and when their social bubble is popped they don't know where to look. I realize a large part of the problem is the human instinct to avoid talking to strangers and the teenager protocol to not look like a fool if they believe the said person won't talk to them. This hurts our news coverage and even our photography and cutlines.
I want my students to feel more comfortable with meeting new people appropriately and am even toying with making a Humans of Reagan High segment a requirement for all students. This way they can learn to approach others and know they'll be ok talking to new people. Having my students meet others from outside their circles, gleaning stories from them and pairing it with Maestro is going to make for an amazing newspaper this coming year. I believe "NO STRANGER DANGER" will be my favorite new three little words.
I want my students to feel more comfortable with meeting new people appropriately and am even toying with making a Humans of Reagan High segment a requirement for all students. This way they can learn to approach others and know they'll be ok talking to new people. Having my students meet others from outside their circles, gleaning stories from them and pairing it with Maestro is going to make for an amazing newspaper this coming year. I believe "NO STRANGER DANGER" will be my favorite new three little words.
Garrett Herbst
Ronald Reagan High School
San Antonio, Texas
Ronald Reagan High School
San Antonio, Texas
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.rootedcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/newtry-500x266.png
ReplyDeletePerfect picture to address your "stranger danger" problem.
Ha! That is great! May have to make that poster sized...
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about students being hesitant to talk to new people--which can be a problem for a newspaper team! I frequently respond to their anxieties by letting them know that they can wear their "reporter hats" as a convenient excuse for talking to people they normally never would. Helping students see themselves in a more professional role, working on behalf of the paper rather than simply "their normal teenage selves," sometimes frees them up to be more comfortable around people they don't know.
ReplyDeleteThis year in my journalism program I had three students who refused to do interviews because of social anxiety, but they also refused to drop the class. Per admin instructions I had to give them alternative assignments that did not require interviews. Most of my students are nervous to interview, but most concede that after initial nerves it is one of their favorite parts of the class as they get to know people they might not otherwise. I really like the "Humans of ____" idea to practice the art of talking to others...I may borrow this idea!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Woolsey
Sunrise Mountain HS
Peoria, AZ
I think an interview becomes a little less scary when you think of it as a conversation rather than an inquisition. I have some REALLY REALLY shy girls on my staff - so shy that they don't even know where to start. For yearbook, it usually helps when we give them "theme-based" interviews to start with. Those questions are pretty easy. I also like to send them out with an experienced staffer/conversationalist so they can see that it's not a super terrifying experience. Interviewing usually ends up being one of my kids' favorite things to do by the end of their four years because they've learned to like getting to know people for no reason (other than publications, of course :)).
ReplyDeleteErinn Harris
TJHSST
Alexandria, VA