Foundation

The NAA Foundation focuses on Newspaper In Education, newspaper youth content, scholastic journalism and diversity. In this blog, you'll learn about products, programs and resources that emphasize the use of newspapers and other media by young people. You'll also learn about programs and activities that can help news media companies transform their cultures in order to grow business and increase readership and audience.

November 2008 - Posts

• 21st century learning, part 2

  By Sandy Woodcock, Foundation director While at the National Middle School Association conference, I got an opportunity to spend a little time in the event's working 21st Century Classroom. It was built within the exhibit hall, staffed by teachers and used by students from Denver-area school districts. The classroom allowed students and teachers to be engaged in authentic learning during the three-day conference using the latest in technology. In the model classroom, middle-schoolers worked on a variety of tasks, moving smoothly from their laptops to touch-screen boards accessing and collecting information from the literally limitless global sources. If you'd like to read about what the kids thought of the experience, click here to access the daily issue of "The Conference Insider." Posted Nov 20 2008, 10:54 AM by Marina Hendricks with no comments Filed under: naa foundation, 21st century learning

• 21st century learning, part 1

  By Sandy Woodcock, Foundation director  Recently, I spent three days at the annual National Middle School Association conference in Denver manning the Foundation's exhibit booth and interacting with middle-school teachers, administrators and curriculum developers. It was an energizing and eye-opening experience. One highlight was a general-session event where Alan November spoke about many new technologies which can and should be used in classrooms to facilitate effective learning. So there we were, sitting in the audience while November used technology to speak with a classroom and a young tech-savvy student at the American School in Beijing. It was amazing to see how this technology makes our globe such a small world. November gave the audience a number of cool examples of how technology brings instruction to life. One such example was students using E-pals. This e-mail system, developed for use in schools, is allowing a classroom of U.S. French-language students to speak with a French classroom of English-language students. The U.S. kids get to practice their French while the French kids do the same in English. How much more interesting and authentic must that make their written exchanges?  Posted Nov 18 2008, 04:30 PM by Marina Hendricks with no comments Filed under: Newspaper In Education, naa foundation, 21st century learning

• nie: marketing to mom

  The fifth installment of our Young Reader Conference recap takes a look at marketing NIE to a most powerful influencer: MOM. Vicki Whiting, president, editor and founder of the syndicate Kid Scoop, discussed what moms seek in a newspaper, how NIE programs can serve them and how newspapers can cultivate their brand loyalty. Noting that women make 80 percent of household spending decisions, she emphasized the importance of "marketing to mom." She used the book "EVEolution: The Eight Truths of Marketing to Women" by Faith Popcorn, condensing Popcorn's eight truths to these five for NIE professionals: 1. If she has to ask, it is too late. Anticipate needs and wants, then provide them. 2. Show up helpfully in her world. Show her the world but explain its significance. 3. Walk, run, go to her. Be a service, not a solicitation. 4. Co-parenting is the best way to brand. Ask moms, "What else could we do to help you?" instead of "What content do you want?" 5. Everything matters. Women want to do business with those they trust, so keep that in mind with every action. -- By Barbara Allen and Kelsea Gurski Click here to read more from Phoenix. Posted Nov 14 2008, 11:54 AM by Marina Hendricks with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Newspaper In Education, young reader conference, NIE marketing, moms, youth editorial alliance

• coaching young writers

  The fourth installment of our look back at the Young Reader Conference concerns a session on coaching young writers by Richard Weiss, who also worked with the YRC teen fellows. Weiss shared a lifetime of tricks and tips for coaching young journalists. He suggested two main concerns facing journalists: the ephemeral and the eternal. The ephemeral includes media platforms, the company and the boss, while the eternal includes well-told stories, value and imagination. Knowing your own story is critical in telling someone else's, he said, and he offered these suggestions for youth editors in encouraging economy in words: Avoid introductory clauses. Never use a big word when a simple one will do. View adjectives and adverbs with suspicion. Use active verbs. Find interesting nouns. Weiss recommended "Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction" by Jon Franklin, "Literary Journalism" by Norman Sims and Mark Kramer, "Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers" by Sol Stein, "The Art and Craft of Feature Writing" by William E. Blundell, "Follow the Story: How to Write Successful Nonfiction," by James B. Stewart and "On Writing Well" by William K. Zinsser. -- By Barbara Allen and Kelsea Gurski Click here for more from the Young Reader Conference ...   Posted Nov 03 2008, 02:28 PM by Marina Hendricks with no comments Filed under: coaching writers, youth editorial