The Discover Program is a natural foundation leading to the Concentrations Upper School
Our Discovery Program is designed for our seventh and
eighth-grade students who wish to pursue their passions. The courses in the
Discovery program contain a rigorous collection of content designed to allow
highly motivated learners to select a path to either discover STEM or discover
Humanities further.
In 2021-2022, the pilot year, throughout the first
semester, students will take a deep dive into each course along their chosen
path. During the second semester, students will engage in a culminating project
of their own design focused on an interest discovered during their coursework.
These projects, completed in partnership with community members and Discovery
teachers, will give students real-world practice in research, written, and
spoken expression all while learning more about topics that inspire them.
Students will be expected to present in a Spring Consortium toward the end of the
school year. Discovery is a year long program that provides students with
deeper understanding and enrichment where gifted standards are embedded
throughout. This program allows our Middle School students to think about
possible Concentrations in Upper School.
At the end of the school year 2022, we decided to make
this class go from good to great. We did our research and met with
administration and pitched the idea of being a program that was a feeder class
to the Journalism Track in our Upper School. We wanted to model our class after
The Andalusian and The Yearbook.
The Andalusian: Editor in
Chiefs: RJ Hosay and Merrell Webster
Cailyn Callaway, Faculty Sponsor
For students
interested in sharing ideas with like-minded lovers of the written word, a club
to produce creative writing in a variety of genres. This club publishes the Andalusian, the newspaper that covers issues
from school activities to world news. Grades 9-12. More information can
be found here: https://maclayandalusian.com/
The Yearbook: Can be found here, https://www.maclay.org/parents/upper-school-links/clubs/yearbook
Our Class is made up of these 3 components with 3 teachers specializing in gifted curriculum for this class trajectory on the Journalism Track.
1 COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH ARTS
COTA challenges students to examine their community and its needs, then address
those needs through arts initiatives. Students will learn how art promotes
communication between cultures, preserves history, changes people’s opinions,
and how it preserves the feelings of a culture. Students will collaborate to
understand how art impacts communities.
2 COMMUNICATION
STUDIES
This course focuses on learning the elements of journalism, public speaking,
and interpersonal communication. Students who are interested in developing a
podcast or YouTube channel can explore researching, writing, editing, and
recording their own informative content. Every student will be responsible for
working with a team to brainstorm ideas for stories, research, conduct
interviews, write copy, and edit copy.
3 CREATIVE
EXPRESSIONS
This writing enrichment course is designed to provide students with additional
instruction and writing experience. Each student is encouraged to try new
techniques and experiment with developing a personal voice in writing as they
learn to think and read like writers and, in so doing, are exposed to writing
as a culture. The course intends to spark students’ creative passions.
Journalism and Graphic Design Concentration
Faculty Sponsor for this is Mrs. Mayer
Throughout modern history, people have depended
on the media to spread the word about events and people of interest to the
general public. Journalism introduces students to the world of the print and
online media. Law, ethics, and the history of journalism will complement the
major units of study: reporting, writing, editing, photography, advertising and
design. In addition, students will have the opportunity to use computer-aided
publishing tools and other hands-on production tools as well as modern photo
techniques.
CORE
REQUIREMENTS
Required Courses with B Average:
Journalism I
Art Appreciation or Digital Photography
Two Sequential Years in Journalism: Newspaper, Journalism: Yearbook, or Video
Production*
*Video Production would require a capstone project (prior review and approval
by teacher and Board of Review**)
BOARD OF
REVIEW MEMBERS
Upper School Director
Dean of Academics
Department Chairs for English & Language Arts and Visual Arts
Journalism, Video, and Graphic Art Teachers
GOALS FOR
CONCENTRATION
Certification in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop
Apprenticeships, Internships, and Partnerships
Journalism I
Offered: During Flex
This course
can serve as the prerequisite to Newspaper Production or Yearbook Production
and is required for the Journalism Core Concentration.
Students will
meet once a week for 80 minutes on the first FLEX of each week [see schedule at
the end of the policy sheet]. Because we are only meeting once a week, it is
very important that you make this class a priority. Please make every effort to
attend class. More than three absences could void your credit. If you cannot
attend class, it will be up to you to make up the work missed that day. At the
completion of the course, elective credit will also be earned.
You can tell
we have thought this class through and set a high standard for our students.
Our website
is: https://maclayinthemiddle.org/
It is a work
in progress…under construction.
Now that you have the backstory. Lets talk about our class!
2022-2023 Path to Discover
Humanities
Instructors:
Ø Dr. Overstreet-MS
Ø Mrs. Daniel-Room MS
Ø Ms. Kutter- Room MS
Location:
We will meet
in MS.
Course Description:
The Path to Discover
Humanities Program is designed for our seventh and eighth grade students who
wish to pursue their passions and develop journalism, writing, and art skills. The
program contains a rigorous collection of content designed to allow highly
motivated learners to select a path to discover humanities further. Throughout
the year, students will take a deep dive into elective courses that will enable
them to create a Humanities Literary Magazine publication each semester. This
publication will be in partnership with Maclay community members and Discovery
teachers, will give students real world practice in research, written, and
spoken expression, layout and design, and photography all while learning more
about topics that inspire them. Students will be expected to produce, design,
and publish a double page spread in two Humanities Literary Magazine
publications as well as create content for a Discovery Humanities website.
Course
Objectives:
Ø Students will examine their
community and its needs, then address those needs through arts initiatives.
Ø Students will learn how art promotes
communication between cultures, preserves history, changes people’s opinions,
and how it preserves the feelings of a culture.
Ø Students will collaborate to
understand how art impacts communities.
Ø Students will learn the elements of
journalism, public speaking, and interpersonal communication.
Ø Students will learn how to appropriately
use design elements to create a layout that is visually appealing and
effectively communicates ideas to the reader.
Ø Students will learn various graphic
elements (typography, photographs, white space,
Ø copy, and elements of art) to
enhance the readability and attractiveness of the layout.
Ø Students will learn how to effectively
use photographic techniques.
Ø Students will demonstrate knowledge
of ethical behavior when preparing a publication.
Ø Students will use appropriate
journalistic writing styles to write for a variety of purposes.
Ø Students will conduct interviews and
research to obtain accurate information.
Ø Students will support the writing
with appropriate attribution.
Ø Students will use clear, precise
language in writing.
Required Materials:
Ø Binder
with tabs and writing utensils
Ø Charged
laptop
Grading:
Ø Every
semester students will have four summative grades and multiple formative
grades.
Ø Students
are responsible for communicating with teachers when absent and
completing and submitting all missed assignments.
Ø Late
formative assignments will be deducted one letter grade per day
they are late. Late summative assignments will be deducted half a letter
grade per day they are late.
|
Letter
Grade |
18-Point
Scale |
Percentage
Equivalent |
|
A+ |
18 |
98-100 |
|
A |
17 |
93-97 |
|
A- |
16 |
90-92 |
|
B+ |
15 |
88-89 |
|
B |
14 |
83-87 |
|
B- |
13 |
80-82 |
|
C+ |
12 |
78-79 |
|
C |
11 |
73-77 |
|
C- |
10 |
70-72 |
|
D+ |
9 |
68-69 |
|
D |
8 |
63-67 |
|
D- |
7 |
60-62 |
|
F |
6 |
40-59 |
|
F- |
3 |
0-39 |
|
Z |
0 |
No work turned in |
Classroom Expectations:
Ø This
course will incorporate classroom discussion, involvement, and student
engagement. Students will need to participate in every class. Students are
responsible for all classroom assignments and should communicate with teachers
to create a plan for making up any missed work. During classroom activities,
students should be respectful of everyone in the class. Students should enter
every activity with a positive attitude and an open mind.
Honor
Code
Ø Please
refer to the Maclay student handbook for the honor policy.
Yearly Plan
22-23 Path to Discover Humanities
Kutter, Daniel, Overstreet
Standards/Learning Objectives
·
Standard 1 – LAYOUT
AND DESIGN: The student demonstrates the ability to design a
layout for a publication. This includes the knowledge of design elements,
graphic elements, and typography.
·
Standard 2 – ETHICS
AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The student
demonstrates an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of a free
press.
·
Standard 3 – ONLINE
PUBLICATION STANDARD: The student
demonstrates the ability to publish online. Online publication of student
journalistic work will follow the same CSMA standards as for the print and
broadcast media.
·
Standard 4 – PHOTOJOURNALISM
ETHICS AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The student demonstrates
an understanding of the ethical and legal rights and responsibilities of taking
and preparing photographs for publication and video for broadcast. This
includes still photos, video imaging, photo illustrations, and computer
imaging. A news photo or broadcast image is an historical record. It is the
responsibility of the student press photographer or videographer to depict
reality.
·
Standard 5 – PHOTOGRAPHY:
The student demonstrates the ability to produce photos for a publication.
·
Standard 6 – WRITING: The student demonstrates the ability to write for a journalistic
publication. This includes the knowledge of appropriate style, interviewing
techniques, consideration of potential audience and purposes for writing,
researching information from a variety of sources, and using the conventions of
writing (e.g. grammar, punctuation, spelling).
Students:
30 max
Budget
o
$2,000
Grading/Assignments:
o
Summative:
o
Self-Portrait
o
2-Page Spread Pitch (
§
Graphic art
§
Photo
§
Piece of Writing
§
Tone, Theme, Elements of Layout
§
Interview
§
Advertisement
o
Draft of 2-Page Spread
o
Final Two Page Spread
o
Formative:
Timeline/Flow
o
Contact Day – policy sheet; get kids excited
o
First week
o
Look at example publications and identify 6 elements
and discuss why they liked it
o
Set up binder
o
Get on InDesign
o
First assignment: create Portrait of You
brochure about yourself
o
Semester 1 Goals: title, designing logo, pitching
ideas
Ideas
·
Each student is responsible for double-page
cohesive spread that involves art and writing
·
Content ideas: interviews with new teachers,
media reviews, articles, book picks, creative writing, polls, opinion pieces, comics
·
2 print publications a year (one per semester)
·
Work journal in binder with key that have
choices about what to do if finish task
·
Have publication party when done with
publication
·
Week before November is last week we can do
content (Nov 18) in order to get magazine printed
We will be posting more on this class this month, so stay tuned. Follow us on Instagram @maclayingthemiddle
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