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NewsELA: BEST Reading Website Ever!

Today I come to you with THE best
reading resource I have found since I started in Intermediate Land {and this
statement is not even a hyperbole}. Several weeks ago I was perusing Tracee Orman’s 1:1 Technology Board
and went to reading teacher heaven. She featured a website called News ELA and
within the hour I had added my 94 kiddos.
News ELA is a website that offers free
current events and news articles for teachers and students. With hundreds of
articles {that are updated weekly}, articles on War & Peace, Science, Kids,
Money, Law, Health, and Arts are all featured. Once you sign up for an account,
you can view the articles online or print them out. Now, we all know how hard
it is to find developmentally appropriate reading materials for middle grades,
so this is AMAZING. But, this is not why this website {note – this is NOT an app} is so amazing!
photo 1 1
The kicker??? Every article is available in 4-5
different Lexile Levels that you choose using the blue menu shown below!!!! Since you
cannot assign a specific reading level to students, your students will need to
know their own Lexile Level. Regardless of the level, the students are reading
the same article! Below you can see the same article on 4 different levels {3rd
grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, 9th grade}.
Notice how the article’s title changes – how cool!!!!!
photo 3 1Lexile LEvel
When you set up your class, you receive
a class code that students use to create their own accounts. Then, as a teacher, you can assign articles to be read. Since students will be using this site
during literacy centers, I have ‘assigned’ 5 different articles and will ask my
students to read 2 of them during each station {allowing for choice based on
interests}.
Binder Page
Now comes the accountability. How do I ensure that students are actually reading the articles? Well, friends, I am SO glad you asked. Articles marked with an anchor {see below} have Common Core aligned quizzes. Each quiz is aligned to a certain ‘anchor standard’. As students take the quizzes, your Teacher Binder automatically updates with the level of quiz students took and their score on the Common Core standard assessed.
photo 2 1

The quizzes are based on the
Lexile Leveled article students read. Each question on the quizzes tells
students what grade level, standard, and skill is being assessed!!! I love
that my kids are given the ‘why’ for each question. As students take the quiz,
they can go back and reference the article, which makes this PERFECT for test
prep practice! After students submit their answers, they learn their score and
are asked to review their incorrect answers.

photo 5 1
Since this is a website resource {not
an app}, I created an iPad Icon for my students’ iPads. This way students have
easy access to the website and do not have to go wandering the internet to find
the site!
photo 4 1
Well, friends – are you excited??? I am
SO giddy and SO thrilled. My 5th
graders loving learning about current events and the world, so these articles
are perfect. There is nothing inappropriate and they are developmentally appropriate.
Plus, look at the differentiation! I am beside myself; I am so excited. Eeekk – so do you already use News ELA? I would love to hear how News ELA in your classroom!

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25 Responses

  7. Of course, Sara! It's so funny how much our kids love nonfiction books and articles. Before entering the classroom, I would have assumed the opposite. Plus, I love how the articles are about current events – such a fun way for kids to learn about our crazy world! 🙂

  11. This will be very helpful! I am in the same teaching situation as you…105 fifth graders…4 classes of 60 minutes each. Very tough to "get it all in" and provide differentiation. I appreciate your blog and your eternally positive attitude!

  12. Wendy, your comment literally made me laugh out loud! I am so glad I am positive, so many days I feel like I am the meanest first year teacher around-ha! 106…WOW! I'll sit here and be very grateful for my 94! 🙂

  14. Thanks for the shout-out, Catherine! I'm so glad you blogged about it because it is too great not to share. The only downfall is the time that is sucked once you enter the site. LOL 🙂

    1. Hahaha – isn't crazy how excited we get about teacher things??? It's an awesome reminder that we're in the right profession! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Amelia. 🙂

  16. aaaaagh!!! I am home on a snow day and I am so excited to have the time to set this up!!! I am flipping out over the different levels!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this 🙂 🙂 🙂

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