Students in Journalism really wanted to start a school newspaper. The overwhelming excitement and enthusiasm prompted the first edition of the Mosaic Stream. Journalism skills were taught throughout the entire project. In the beginning, as part of the pre-writing, students learned about Headlines, Leads, the 5W+H (who, what, when, where, why and how) and the inverted pyramid. Next students explored story ideas, what would be covered and why; the importance of asking good questions; and interviewing. Throughout the entire process students used the writing process: pressuring, drafting, revising, proofreading, editing, and publishing. In the next edition students will continue to work with revising and editing.
Collaboration and teamwork was a focus throughout this project. Students chose a section of interest and worked in groups of 3 to 6 people to coordinate the content and the design of each section. An editor was chosen by each group to assemble the various stories. Editors took the initiative to edit the writing as well. Collaboration was key in the use of technology, taking photos, and selecting graphics. In future additions of the Mosaic Stream students will change roles and have the opportunity to work both in their strengths and in new challenges.