The only time I ever got into trouble in junior high was related to an “underground” newspaper I wrote and distributed using an old typewriter, carbons, and the Xerox machine at the local library.newspaper

I recall that my mom was called as I sat on one side of the principal’s desk. I was frozen in fear, not for what my parents would do, but of the wrath of Mr.Mcwhatshisname, who was the subject of a small little article in the lower righthand corner of page one. He said something to my mom about writing lies and said he’d let me go with a warning as long as I promised to cease and desist this newspaper business. After he got off the phone, I had to go to my locker to retrieve the remaining copies of the paper and turn them over to him. Once I did, all would be well. I had escaped the paddle that hung in the office.

I’d also escaped any punishment at home–what I’d written was true–I did see the principal hands and acting like a giddy schoolboy with the hall monitor in an out-of-the-way corridor of the school–so it wasn’t a lie, as the principal pronounced. It still had no place in public writing, mom said. Issue I, Volume One of the PPJunior High Gazette (I think I called it something like that), was both the inaugural and final issue.

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I dredge up this story because playing newspaper is a great way to get kids writing. I don’t recommend publishing private information or salicious details. Instead, give your kids these suggestions.

1) Write a sports newspaper. My son does this every so often, recounting the events of the previous night’s Cleveland Indian’s ball game.

2) Write a family newsletter. Write a short article on each family member and what they are doing. Mail it off!  Better yet, have the kids write the family Christmas Newsletter. Have them interview the family, and gather photos.

3) Write a mock newspaper for the town that a favorite book or television character lives in.

To design the paper, you can use a newsletter template in Microsoft Word or Publisher, or you can just configure columns in Microsoft Word or any other word processor.

Kids can design their header, add in clip art, photos, and even their own comics and advertisements.