Newspapers improve reading
skills. Like the old adage says,
"Practice makes perfect." Reading
newspapers each day can help
kids develop their reading and
comprehension skills.
Newspapers promote critical
thinking. Newspaper reporters
are trained to objectively report
the news, sharing facts without
allowing their own opinions to
influence their stories. Educators
can choose stories from the
newspaper to serve as catalysts
for discussions that focus not just
on the facts listed in the story, but
what might be behind them. Such
discussions can help youngsters
develop their critical thinking skills.
Newspapers bring ideas
and current events to life.
Many children are aware of
major world events, even if
they don't know or understand
the details. Newspaper articles
about world events can be used
as avenues to discussions about
what's going on in the world.
Newspapers build global awareness.
Customized newsfeeds funneled through social
media outlets can make it hard for young
people to recognize and understand the world
beyond their own communities and interests.
Each days, newspapers include local, national
and international stories that can illustrate to
kids that there's a world beyond their own.
Newspapers promote social
consciousness. Without newspapers, young
people may never be exposed to the social
issues facing their own communities or those
issues that are affecting people across the
country and the world. Newspapers provide
unbiased exposure to such issues, potentially
leading youngsters to further explore topics
that are shaping their world and even
encouraging them to form their own opinions.
Newspapers make learning fun.
According to a 2017 report from Common
Sense Media, kids younger than eight spend
an average of two hours and 19 minutes per
day looking at screens. Newspapers provide
a welcome break from tablets, smartphones
and computers, and kids may have fun flipping
pages and getting a little ink on their hands.
Seven ways
newspapers
benefit
kids in the
classroom
Hey Kids, classrooms have come a long way since
the days when pioneering settlers would send their
kids to one-room schoolhouses. Modern classrooms
might be technical marvels, but one less flashy
learning tool remains as valuable as ever.
Newspapers. Whether in print or online, they are
still an invaluable resource to educators and students.
Here are seven ways newspapers in the classroom
benefit kids, just like you.
Newspapers build vocabulary.
Numerous studies have found that
reading can improve youngsters'
vocabulary. Each day, newspapers are
filled with fresh stories that can introduce
kids to new words, helping them to
strengthen their vocabularies and make
them more effective communicators.
Off icialKidsMag.com • FEBRUARY 2019 • 35
