NSPA

Join NSPA

Discover the benefits of membership in the National Scholastic Press Association.

Not sure if you're a member? Enter publication name below: (Advanced search)


NSPA View

The latest work being done by our member publications. Members: See your work here.

www.flickr.com

Search NSPA

NSPA Forums

This is an archived NSPA Forums thread. Click here to visit our current forums.

First time yr. book teacher in need of help!

Layci, 8/17/2005, 5:31:38 PM

I am usually just an art teacher, but I found out last week (school started yesterday) that I am also doing the yearbook this year for our brand new middle school. I was a yearbook editor during high school, but that was 9 years ago and I have no idea where or how to begin? What do we start with? Do I go with a company like Jostens (for example)and get like a kit or something? What am I supposed to do during these first few weeks of school? We spent today looking at other yearbooks and jotting down the different contents we will need for our book and the only left I knew of to do to kill time was to let the kids draw examples of what they might like the cover to look like! I am so confused and have no idea what to do? Where do I start? I am starting from scratch...literally! Help!

Responses

PooH, 8/19/2005, 1:20:13 PM
Wow! You have a lot on your hands. I don't really know much about Year book making but it will be cool if your students can come up with a theme for the Year Book. You should try to come up with groups or jobs that the students can be in charge of so that it will be easier or more orginized. If it helps, you should go to the local High School year book teacher and get advice or ideas for yours. Well hope for the beast!! Good Luck!

Kathy , 9/3/2005, 6:39:33 AM
Hi Layci,
I was sort of thrown into doing the yearbook about 7 years ago. I knew nothing either. I hooked up with Jostens - the simple Memory Express program. It was so simple. They give you step by step directions. Basically - select your pictures, organize them by activites and pages, caption them, mail them - they do the rest. I will say that after 7 years, we've had enough of Jostens mistakes and have switched. Jostens prices were always the best, but you get what you pay for. Mistakes escalated over the 7 years into nightmares. We will try Walters this year. A 2nd alternative is to try Memorybook. Good luck, and feel free to ask more questions!

rs, 9/5/2005, 1:17:41 PM
Hi Layci,

I was new, too, and went with Jostens. They were so helpful! At the beginning of the year, be sure to schedule class photos (where you have a photographer come in and take pics of all the kids). One thing that really helped me was to, along with the kids, develop a theme and make sure that theme was represented verbally and visually on every page. That's a fun activity you can do with your students. Here is a helpful web site with handouts/activities for you:

http://www.jteacher.com/

Best of luck!

Loie, 9/7/2005, 12:03:21 AM
Help,
Tomorrow is the first day for me to advise the HS yearbook. I am terrified. I too am the art teacher and love photography and lay out, however what do I do for a day - to - day activity and grading?

Robin Kearney, 1/30/2006, 2:52:19 PM
I've used Jostens and I'm currently using Herff Jones, and I love my rep :-)

Herff Jones has a complete curriculum available, which is awesome.

Mike Taylor, 2/4/2006, 3:19:03 PM
It is a Sat. afternoon, and I am seeing your question while just looking through the web site.

I am not a sales rep, but i am the marketing manager for Taylor Publishing. If you send me your address, I will send you our brand new Adviser resource guide, Get IT? Got It. GREAT! book. It will really help you out.
Send to
mtaylor@taylorpub.com
Again, this is not a commerical, I just want to help you.