While advisers would love to have an all-journalism schedule, that’s not always reality. Often teachers juggle multiple other classes like English, history or technology. Eight advisers share their strategies for a multi-discipline balancing act.
Trust experienced staffers
“I teach Pre-AP English I, English I and British Literature, in addition to Geography. I also have Journalism where we train new students, teach newspaper and yearbook skills all in the same classroom. I have the ability to choose my curriculum in the other classes, so I chose one that allows more independent learning. I lecture once or twice a week in English and Geography and the kids work independently on study guides for literature or maps and chapters for geography the other days. As for journalism, I use my editors (I have five this year) who are second or third year students to do preliminary yearbook and newspaper tasks. Since it's their publication, I don't do the initial work or layouts. Editors do. And we do a summer book, so it gives me time to train the new kids while my experienced staff do the cover, theme, fonts, colors, ladder, layout the newspaper, organize pics on the server, and make picture assignments.”
-Paula Barger, First Baptist Christian Academy
Plan ahead
“I think the only thing that helps me have any sort of balance at all is the fact that I have a wonderful English PLC that allows me to take on the majority of my English work in the times that are slower for yearbook/journalism. We plan together and share lesson planning responsibility. That way, in “prime time” (January/February/March), I can be free to give Yearbook and journalism all of my attention. I plan for one conference period a week to be dedicated to YB/journalism since I do not have a planning period for it. This buys me the time to get out and talk to the people I need to talk with, update calendars, grade student work, make phone calls, etc. that cannot be done outside of 8-5. If I’ve learned anything, it’s the more I work ahead and share responsibility with capable students, the better off I am. Try to plan ahead as much as possible. Take time each week to check the calendar to see what’s coming. This way, nothing sneaks up on you. Find those kids who are ready for some extra duty and let them run with it. They have fantastic new ideas to share! It’s a busy year, but a fulfilling one.”
-Sandy Emerson
Take a break
“I also teach English II in a different classroom, and they combined my J1 and PhotoJ classes this year. I spent some time this summer lesson planning J1 and PhotoJ (with mostly JEA curriculum) so I would have a solid plan for at least one class, and I also gave my yearbook editors a lot of responsibility for the book and the class this year. That being said, I still feel like I’m constantly swamped with things to do. Find a good balance and occasionally take a break from work.”
-Mallory Lozoya, Red Oak High School
Planner Spaces and lots of coffee
“Many planner spaces, reliable editors, supportive rep, and all the coffee. [Planner spaces] are a weekly planner to keep everything straight. Mine even has a section for each day’s to-do list and I record the plans and progress for each class.”
-Kylee Maarschalk, New Hanover High School
Stay focused
“Everything has a day. I tutor French on Tuesdays; we work on the book on Thursdays. I plan French on certain days; I submit pages on certain days. I try really hard not to even act like the other class exists when I'm in one – meaning, no yearbook talk during French, no French planning during yearbook (of course, certain times of year I can't do that).”
-Tiffany Canody, Woodside High School
Adopt the Agile Method
“We are using Agile project management teams this year. Each team is assigned a spread that should take two weeks. Each day they have a quick meeting to share what they did the day before, what they are doing today, and what roadblocks they are facing. They work as a team to figure it out and get it done. We are using a board in the room to track progress and Trello. That way it is easy for me to check where each team is at. I believe this will make my year easier and take away the surprises of missing pictures, interviews and blank spreads.”
-Melissa Reagan, Deer Valley High School
Decide when to let go
I teach English 12 and yearbook; this is year 11 of that schedule (I had eight years of English only before that). You’d think I had my ducks in a row, but it’s a constant juggling act. My suggestions? Organization, planning, delegate when you can, and deciding what to just let go; that goes for both subjects.”
-Nola Henderson, Jefferson County High School
Find passionate students
I have two sections of yearbook total all year and 13 sections of English. Yearbook isn’t and can’t be my top priority. That said, we take pride in the book we put out. The most helpful thing for me is finding kids who are passionate about making a good book and who work hard to ensure things are getting done. I also have work nights and provide food in exchange for extra time outside of school when kids get pages done. We have a small staff of around 15 most years, but still have a decent 184-page book. Recently, I’ve also started talking with teachers of other electives to find students who are hard-working and meet deadlines. Those are the kids I want.”
-Jade Joseph, Princeton High School
