7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting In Middle School In “7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting in Middle School,” episode #106, Meredith Curtis shares how she hones in our children’s writing before they start high school by teaching them to write like reporters. Not only do they learn to write clearly and concisely, they have fun putting together a newspaper and write with a purpose—for others to read their writing. Not only that, newspapers played a huge part in the history of the United States, so studying newspaper writing, though the newspaper industry is fading away, helps children understand our past with clarity by putting on their reporter and editor hats. Getting children ready for essays, research papers, and literary analysis doesn’t have to be boring. Writing like a reporter is super-fun and so is creating your own newspaper. Be inspired to enjoy middle school English while investing in your children’s long term growth as writers. Powerline Productions, Inc. Being World Changers, Raising World Changers! Show Notes Common questions: “How do you teach English in middle school?” and “How do you get kids ready for high school. One thing I do in middle school is teach my children to think like reporters. Some time in middle school we do a newspaper writing course. We learn to write headlines, bylines, news stories, and put together a newspaper to share with others. How a newspaper works with editor, reporters, columnists, and business side History of newspapers This is really fun to do with another family or two or in a co-op setting if you don’t have a big family. Here are the Skills I Teach: Reporters Asking questions Find way around newspaper Lead Who, what, where, and when in the first sentence. Why and/or how in second. What is really happening? What is important and what isn’t? Headlines & Bylines Bylines: who wrote it and where Headlines: brief, eye-catching, make reader want to know more Font Editing Editing matters because people will be reading your work Grammar & spelling in a practical way Editor marks Supplemental grammar/spelling Creating a Newspaper So much involved from writing to editing to business side Everyone gets a job Everyone writes an article Mom is publisher and possibly editor-in-chief too Making and selling ads Teamwork History Brief look at history of newspapers American history—federalist and anti-federalist papers Different Slant and honest about compared to today Yellow Journalism Fun! Joy of creating something other people enjoy! Joy of working together on a big project Joy of growing as a writer Joy of people reading your writing—writing has a purpose English Courses If you would like to use my English courses in your own homeschool, they are all available for sale in print at Amazon and as E-books from PowerineProd.com, PayHip, and