12 Tips For The New Adviser

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PLAN AND ATTEND WORKSHOPS Workshops offer a concentrated experience for training, yearbook development and bonding. Summer, fall and spring workshops have different goals. The summer workshop allows your students to get tech training, develop their theme concept including cover design and spread templates, and bond with each other. With this work done before the first day of school, students can jump right in to coverage. Students should know that a summer workshop is fun but expectations are high for them to accomplish their work. Editors and others in leadership positions should be encouraged to attend a summer workshop, plus any staff members who want to go. Have them pay at least one-third to one-half of the cost so they are invested in it. And let students and parents know the dates early enough for them to plan their summer. Early in the school year, analyze the yearbook budget and include the amount the yearbook program will contribute to the overall cost of the workshop, based on the previous year’s workshop information. Consider how to raise the money if the yearbook program will be paying a portion, such as selling more ads and books or possibly raising the cost of the book by $5. Discuss options for student fundraising to help them offset their portion of the cost. A fall workshop provides the opportunity to learn about theme development, improving design, taking better photos, improving coverage and getting the cover designed if not done previously. A spring workshop can be held for next year’s staff to introduce them to their jobs, get some tech training and learn to market their yearbook and sell ads over the summer. Walsworth’s adviser-only workshop, Adviser Academy, is held each summer and provides three days of classes in beginning and advanced tracks, plus a middle school track and the option to tour Walsworth’s printing facilities or attend advanced tech training. You can network with advisers from across the country and leave with stacks of great resources and feeling ready for the year ahead.

Photo by Ella Snyder

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