ABC Book of Newspaper Sponge Activities (PDF)
What does a teacher do when a lesson runs short and there is no time to start another activity? In the past we called these activities Fillers, but today they have become Sponge Activities: Activities that reinforce standards-based skills in a short period of time.
Linking Language Art Standards to the Newspaper (PDF)
By Dr. Darla Shaw
By using newspaper articles and photos in conjunction with specific strategies and rubrics, at least once a week, teachers can help their students comply with state educational standards and prepare for both standardized tests and real life circumstances.
Multigenre Research Projects Using Newspaper Genres (PDF)
Written by Dr. Darla Shaw based on Tom Romano's book, Blending Genre, Altering Style. The goal of this guide is to teach students how to write and produce the many genres used in the newspaper. Then individual students or student groups will produce an entire newspaper as a Multigenre Research Project on a curriculum topic being studied in class.
Newspapers, The Ultimate Informational Text (PDF)
Provided by the NAA Foundation. National and state standards place a high priority on students being able to read, write and think about informational text. Many state assessments include high percentages of informational text. Standards require students to ask questions, locate information to answers and evaluate sources of information. This guide will help teachers use the newspaper to teach students these standards.
Now I Get It (PDF)
This NAA Foundation guide provides a variety of lessons and activities to help students develop their comprehension skills. It also includes information about current comprehension skills researchand national standards for reading comprehension. The material is appropriate for students in both middle school and high school. Special activities are included for elementary students.
Reading First, NIE! (PDF)
(NAA Foundation) Another research-based curriculum guide for teachers and NIE coordinators that also provides ideas for parents to use at home as well as information about national trends in reading instruction. The newspaper-based activities suggested are meant to supplement and enrich each of the five elements recommended by the National Reading Panel.
Reading First: Research-Based Reading Instruction Using the Newspaper (PDF)
Based on the US Dept. of Education’s Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read, a report on successful research-based reading instruction, this guide focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills using the newspaper.
Reading Realities (PDF)
The 73 activities in this publication use your newspaper in development of reading skills-skimming, distinguishing fact from opinion, finding the main idea, interpreting editorials, analyzing theme, etc.
Response to Intervention (RTI): Common Formative Assessments & SMART Goals Using the Newspaper (PDF)
Key components in the RTI process are the use of research-based, non-fiction, and authentic materials on a variety of levels. Schools and the newspaper realize that literacy efforts needs to be authentic, leveled, motivational, integrated, engaging, and manipulative. For this reason NIE and RTI work well together. This RTI guide focuses on phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension.
The Essential Question: A Key Element in Critical Thinking and Comprehension (PDF)
Written by Dr. Darla Shaw. Student developed questions are at the heart of today’s education. Asking the correct question and then going after possible answers is what resourceful, independent learning is all about. If you ask the “right question(s)” you are on the path to finding out about what you really need to know to solve a problem.
Thoughtful Literacy Using the Newspaper (PDF)
This cutting edge guide was written by Dr. Darla Shaw. It is based on the work of Drs. Richard Allington and Peter Johnston, leaders of the Center for English Learning and Achievement/University of Albany (CELA) research team that is studying effective classrooms. In examining teacher practice, they’ve identified a set of core teaching characteristics that tend to foster thoughtful literacy and the ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information effectively: Managed choice, Multi-source curriculum, Multi-task learning, & Meaningful classroom discussion.
Using the Newspaper to Teach Standards in Middle School English (PDF)
This guide provides lesson plans correlated to most Middle School English curriculum standards.
Language Arts
Literacy
Math, Science, Technology, & Environment
Social Studies, Government, & Civics
Elementary & Middle School Multi-Curricular
