Article Help: Back-to-school ideas? Need my Niners!

pennstated912

I just got offered to write a 1,000 word article for a local magazine in my area with the subject being "Back-to-school/Education." The magazine's mission statement states:

"To positively influence the revenue growth of businesses in the Lehigh Valley who provide consumers with quality products and services."I need a general topic to translate into a large article that is relatable in our area. There really isn't a local board on TN for Lehigh Valley, PA.Have any ideas?TIA! 

maryandkirk0909

I'd talk to people from local school districts, see if you can do a piece on the kids going back to school who are enrolled in the work half a day in the community program (they had this at my hs- I think it is fairly common).

Then, interview the kids, ask them what they learn through this program, what their future plans are, and do a little bit on the impact their experiential education can have on the community now and after they go through higher ed.

pennstated912

I'm so excited! This is my first printed article!

Unfortunately, I don't think we have that program here. I did some research and can't seem to find anything on it here  

Diamond_Doll

Wow that's really vague!

A few ideas:

Mary's work-study piece or a piece about the tech school, if you have one

Companies that are sponsoring schools/organizations through grants

Field trip opportunities (aside from the norm, for example my class is visiting a weather radar company this year)

Professionals presenting at schools (for example, when we study CSI, a real detective visits to my class)

A job fair or college fair, but those are probably later in the year

 

pennstated912

What about how technology is changing the classroom? For example, traditional school supplies (scissors, notebooks, pens) vs. new age (iPad, laptops, etc?)

shmoo-lou

We called it a work study program in high school, and I thought that most states have those programs. I really like the idea of this.

 

Diamond_Doll

pennstated912:

What about how technology is changing the classroom? For example, traditional school supplies (scissors, notebooks, pens) vs. new age (iPad, laptops, etc?)

I thought about something like this, just wasn't sure if it was "business" enough. I think that'd be a great article. You can look at it from the angle of students (iPads, laptops, iPods, thumb drives) and teachers (Elmos, Smartboards, digital projectors). Technology is a huge topic in educational journals, so you should be able to find plenty of resources. There's lots of good information out there about teaching students through techology, too (creating websites, blogs, wikis, podcasts, movies, multimedia presentations).

telatovich

Oh man... I didn't realize you lived in the Lehigh Valley.  We lived there (in Bethlehem) for about 6 months, and high-tailed it out of there as soon as possible!  What a different world than quiet, clean, less-populated sleepy central-PA.