HIT->STUDENT NEWSPAPERS

["June M. Muldner" <ny000997@MAIL.NYSER.NET>]

Earlier this summer I asked for help with a library-produced student
newsletter. I got several responses and requests to post a hit, so here
it is:


In April I attended an educator's computing conf. in Balt., MD and
viewed some interesting newspapers/newsletters produced by students
(hardcopy and diskette) with Hyperstudio.  It's a neat program and
fairly easy to learn.  Good luck!
Sharon
sbruwrit@strauss.udel.edu

I have occasionally done so on an erratic basis.  Include student book
reviews, book/library word searches, riddles (ask the question and say
"you can find the answer on page 43 of a book with this call number:
793.5 BAR"), Headlines (eg., FAMILY OF DUCKS SEEN CROSSING BUSY STREET -
What book is it? [Make Way for Ducklings]), scrambled titles (e.g.
dsalin fo hte uble iohlpnds [Island of the Blue Dolphins]). You can have
a mailbox in the library where kids put their responses, and it is
enough to put a sticker on a correct answer and post it for a week.
Also include announcements of new books and a schedule of events.
Suzanne Cane, Providence, R.I.

I do a combination family newsletter.  I have news of interest around
school, pats on the back, upcoming calendar (which students don't know yet),
I write an editorial on page 2 (with my picture), have student reporters
write about special events, awards, etc.  I occasionally feature a
well-written story or detail a success story of a student achievement
(from my point of view). I try to include every student in some way
during the year.  These come out the first day of each month.  I compose
in MSWord and put into columns in Pagemaker. Sometimes I have a parent
volunteer who helps, or some students (4th graders) who can do their own
input and spellchecking.  I've even had help from aides and the school
secretary and I send it to xerox for publication.
    Note: always give a copy to the principal and send one to the
superintendent.  It's good PR.  Also, if you have a computer lab, ask
for help.  Or get a high school aide or ask the h.s. word processing
class to help out and create a file of work to be published.  I keep the
newsletter to 4 pages unless I get a real backlog and then we put out a
"magazine" of student work maybe once or twice.
Arliss B. Moll uwnet45@u.washington.com

The last response was quite long, so I've paraphrased it:
1. Include student book reviews in various genres.
2. Have a name-the-newsletter contest, with a small prize for the winner.
3. Include a shape for each month. Students could cut out the shape
(apples, pumpkins, etc), add their names, and the title of the best book
they read, and return them to the library for a bulletin board display.
4. Notes on district-wide events.
5. Encourage students to contribute to the newsletter
Anne
alawless@vmsvax.simmons.edu

You've all contributed some great ideas, thanks!
June Muldner
ny000997@mail.nyser.net