Newspaper In Education
Arkansas Reading Association
NIE Committee Chair
Caroline Schenk, M.S. ED LEADERSHIP
caroline@arareading.org
Do You Remember
Your First Time?
Then…
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Comics?
Front page?
Sports page?
Pictures?
Now…
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Buying a car?
Want ads?
Travel?
Business section?
The newspaper is
very much a part of
a literate life!
What is NIE?
 An international program that began in 1955
to advance the use of newspapers in
schools.
 The main purpose of the program is to
improve reading, writing and spelling
abilities in students.
Why NIE?
 “There is substantial evidence that using
newspapers in schools contributes to
students’ reading skills, writing skills, and
current event knowledge. The effects are
most dramatic among minorities.”
Edward F. DeRoche, Dean
School of Education,
University of San Diego
History of NIE…
Newspapers in education is a concept dating back to June 8, 1795
when The Portland (Maine) Eastern Herald published the following
editorial:
Much has been said and written on the utility of newspaper; but one
principal advantage which might be derived from these publications
has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools, and
by the children in families. Try it for one session - Do you wish your
child to improve in reading solely, give him a newspaper- it furnishes
a variety, some parts of which must infallibly touch his fancy. Do you
wish to instruct him in geography, nothing will so indelibly fix the
relative situation of different places, as the stories and events
published in the papers. In time, do you wish to have him
acquainted with the manners of country or city, the mode of doing
business, public or private; or do you wish him to have a smattering
of every kind of science useful and amusing, give him a newspapernewspapers are plenty and cheap- the cheapest book that can be
bought, and the more you buy the better for your children, because
every part furnishes some new and valuable information.
Why NIE?
 Providing students with newspapers, at a
time when they have teacher support, can
help prevent illiteracy later.
 Newspapers open the world to students.
 Help students become informed and
involved citizens.
 Help students develop critical reading
skills by teaching newspaper reading.
NIE Mission…
 Provide educators with an economical, effective
and exciting teaching resource for lessons K-12.
 Convey an understanding of the free press as an
essential institution in a free society.
 Foster students’ personal growth through use of
the newspaper to provide information,
entertainment, and skills necessary for modern
life.
NIE Online
 Gives access to:
– Custom classroom lesson
plans
– Cartoons for the classroom
– Front page talking points
– Geography in the news
– Educational links library
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You Tube: “Shift Happens”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4
Q75KhAeqJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q75KhAeqJg
So What Does It All Mean???
 Kids are bombarded with so much
information.
 It’s our job to teach kids how to process
information?
 How does literacy fit?
 We are human….we have to process; we
have to teach kids how to process; we have
to model for kids how WE process.
Examples of Accessible Text
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Newspaper Articles
Graphic Organizers
Labs
Poems
Short Nonfiction Selection
Fiction
Picture Books
Short Stories
Vignettes
Brochures
Charts and Graphs
Menus
Almanacs
Magazine Articles
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Online Newspapers
Biographical Information
Student Generated Writing
Lists
Worksheets
Photos
Postcards
Quotes
Letters and Journals
Song Lyrics
Pictures of Artwork
Calendars
Recipes
Maps
Accessible Text
 If students are to understand what they read, then
teachers must find text to supplement the textbook – as
well as give them time to practice new strategies for
understanding the reading during class.
 Accessible text is timely, well written, and short. It can
be read in one class period. It is pleasant to the eye and
interesting to read.
 Accessible text helps students make a connection
between school subjects and the real world because it
helps them experience reading that is done in the real
world.
 If we are constantly giving students text that is too hard
for them to read, they may get through it, but will they
really understand it? Many struggling readers feel
defeated before they even begin.
Accessible Text Pieces Can…
 Build Background Knowledge: so that readers
can better connect what they know to new
information.
 Create Curiosity: so that readers wonder about
the topic and are propelled to learn more about it.
 Show Connections to the Real World: so that
readers understand how required reading is
important outside of school.
 Serve as a Piece of Text for Modeling: so that
readers can see options on “how” to think about
their reading when it gets difficult.
Catch of the Day Elicits Oohs and Jaws!
The 13-inch pacu that Travis Smith caught Tuesday
proved to be a reel struggle to pull in. (Courtesy of Travis Smith )
Eighteen-year-old Travis Smith wasn't surprised to feel a bite on his line when he was
fishing in Lakewood this week, but he was surprised by the set of chompers on the fish
he pulled from the lake.
"At first I thought it was a piranha," Smith said. "But then I thought, 'That's stupid, it's
Colorado. It's not a piranha.' "
After researching the fish on the Internet and e-mailing photos to the Colorado Division
of Wildlife, Smith and his father, Steven, identified the toothy fish as a pacu, a relative
of South America's piranha. "It's quite some fish," Steven Smith said.
His son was fishing Tuesday at Smith Reservoir, east of South Kipling Parkway…
Annotating Text
Making Thinking Visible
 Recording thinking so that it can be remembered
and reused.
 Recording thinking while reading helps a reader
remember what he has read. It also provides an
opportunity for the reader to wrestle with meaning.
 Knowing what to write when annotating gives the
reader a purpose and also helps the reader
determine what is important. Annotating makes
the reader’s thinking visible so the teacher can see
if meaning is being constructed. (Show your work)
Options or Purposes for Annotation:
Record questions. (I wonder….?)
Record connections. (This reminds me of ….)
Record confusions. (I don’t understand….)
Record opinions.
Record thinking that is new to you.
Record the Who. Define who the “biggies” are in the selection and why
they are important. Consider their political affiliation, special interests,
and with whom they align.
 Record the What. Describe what is significant about the event and
what conditions made the event possible.
 Record the When. Pinpoint when the event occurred and consider
when the issue(s) concerning the event will resurface.
 Record the Where. Where in the world is this happening? Is the
geography significant and have other significant events happened here
before?
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 NIE programs exist throughout the state. Check
with your local newspapers to see if they have
an NIE program. If so, request to be part of it
and receive newspapers as part of the
partnership.
 Newspapers online to use as accessible text.
 Great way to “hook” students as you kick off a
new unit of study.
Newspaper in Education Week
2010
 March 1-5
 Critical Thinking Through Core Curriculum:
Using Print and Digital Newspapers
 You can find the link to this material at
http://www.naafoundation.org/Curriculum/NI
E/NIE-Week.aspx.
 Everything can be downloaded free of
charge.
Everyone Can Use A Newspaper
RESOURCES
1. National Newspaper In Education
www.nieonline.com
2. Arkansas Newspaper in Education
www.arkansaspress.org/about-nie
3. Arkansas Press Association
www.arkansaspress.org
4. Arkansas Democrat Gazette
www.ardemgaz.com/nie