Tuesday Tip: October is a great month to complete your first spreads. If your yearbook class is moving slowly, it’s time to step in and create some excitement.
- Help students understand the importance of yearbooks. Tell meaningful stories about the importance of yearbooks and discuss how yearbooks become more valuable to people as time passes. Give specific examples. Grandparents are a great source for these stories.
- Inspire students with examples of yearbooks from neighboring schools. Reach out to your rep to ask for samples. If you have extra books from past years, contact neighboring advisers and organize a trade.
- Set students up for success – give them everything they need to create those first spreads. Have the editors place a layout on the spread and provide plenty of photographs. Check in with them every day. Offer lots of help and support. Pair kids up! Got one who loves to talk and another who loves to write? Let the talker interview and the writer craft the captions.
Yearbooks is the biggest group project on campus. Encourage the kids on staff to identify everyone’s strengths and use them to the staff’s advantage. Everyone can help with something. Encourage staff members to teach and help each other. Create a supportive environment where everyone can ask questions or ask for help.
- Have fun together! Celebrate birthdays and organize one minute dance party Fridays. Recognize great yearbook work in class. If someone takes an amazing photo, show it off to the whole staff and talk about the elements that make it exceptional. Read great captions and stories out loud. Appoint a class DJ to play a variety of music at a respectful volume. Be sure that you greet every student every day.