[ComradesTrue]

This early in the year the class can be spent doing:

-- grammar/writing assignments to brush up on those skills. Even though the submitted work won't make it into the yearbook it is great practice and should make the actual work easier later in the year

-- kids who are new to the class will need to learn the computer/publishing system. Kids who were in the class last year may need to learn more advanced skills that what they did last year. (not sure about this since we did ours on paper grids, but seems there are always more things that one can learn on a computer, and there were always kids in our class who could do more advanced things)

-- does your school do a theme for the yearbook? Your publishing company can help you brainstorm some ideas, and it certainly makes the book more cohesive and interesting. Fall is the time of year when you want to select your theme and start brainstorming how it can be incorportated in the various sections of the yearbook (sports, clubs, activities, class pics, ads, etc)

-- along those lines, typically a yearbook will have the same layout for all title/section title pages. You can start planning what that layout will be

-- there are certain "rules" when designing a page that have to do with white space, direction that eyes are looking in a photo, "eye lines," and where copy can go. This is a great time to have them practice making their own layouts with magazine photos, copy, etc. Someone above mentioned having an assignement where students bring in layouts that they like/don't like.

-- to continue, kids these days are so myspace focuses and used to things being uber-busy. Help them understand that less can be more!

-- I spent 7-12th grade on yearbook and served 3 of those years as editor. I will have more thoughts to share later, but the munckins are awake and I must go tend to that.