Revving up for the first article...

Although the amount of snow days that we have experienced is getting a little out of hand, my group was able to meet this morning.  Today we focused on brainstorming for potential article ideas for our school newspaper.  After a slow beginning on getting ideas going, my participants were able to generate some great ideas for their articles for the newspaper research project.  Ideas such as:

1. 5th grade field trip
2. Teacher's baby
3. Black History Play (Follow the Drinking Gourd)
4. Snow days/ Weather
5. After school programs
6. Academic team
7. Playground equipment that we're supposed to get
8. Music class
9. Bullying
10. What's going on in specials classes?
11. New stuff teachers are teaching
12. Anti-violence
13. How to make school better

Below are each participant's subject choices for an article...

Student A: What's going on in specials

Student C: Academic team

Student J: After school programs

Student K: Bullying

Student L: (information to come)

During our meeting today, participants were attempting to help one another come up with ideas and discussion points for their selected article topics. Some of the conversation lines were as follows (ie: J represents Student J):

J: How do they get ready for academic challenges?

A: I need some ideas. 

K: You can do Spanish class.

A: I'm going to interview specials teachers.

(observation- Participants J is writing diligently)

A: In gym we're getting skates

(observation- off on a tangent. Participant J "she is mean.")

C: Am I supposed to ask questions?

K: (observation: giving ideas to Participant A) Are you doing all specials?

A: Yes

J: How can you stop bullying in after school programs?

K: I think we should do bully buster... a new program for bully busters.

(observation- on a tangent about researcher not looking at paper when writing)

K: Different after school programs

A: And when they meet...

Leaving assignment for participants: Rough draft of first article due next Tuesday (2/8/14).  Due to the amount of snow days and limited time during the school day to meet, I have sent the teacher interviews to the respective fifth grade teachers to provide further information about each participant.  I have also inquired about receiving writing samples of each participant's past work/ writing.