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.
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!
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!
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
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}.
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}.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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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This website looks AWESOME!!! 🙂 I cannot wait to peruse it and add my kiddos! Thanks for the great suggestion, Catherine!
~Jessica
Joy in the Journey
Sooooooo great! Thank you for sharing! I will definitely use this when I get back to school!! WAHOOOOO!!!
This is amazing. Just sent the link to your blog to a friend. Love it! Thanks for sharing!!
YAY! I am so glad you ladies are as excited as I am. I felt like a small child on Christmas!!! 🙂
-Catherine
Wow! This is incredible! I will be sharing this website with my co-teachers!
~Deb
Crafting Connections
DiRECTLY after I read this, I signed up! I cannot wait to share with my parents and students… they love reading factual things and news articles fall right into line with that in my opinion! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!
Sara
Miss V's Busy Bees
ventrellasara@gmail.com
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! 🙂
Literally signed into this after I saw your link on facebook! Thank you!
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!!!!!! I am SO excited to put this in my students´ hands!!!!!!!
Fabulous find…I've shared it with my colleagues. Thanks so much!
Carla @ Comprehension Connection
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!
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! 🙂
This is great! Thank you for sharing. I love that I can use it as a literary center in my classroom.
Happy New Year!
Michele
Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans
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 🙂
Of course, Tracee! Your 1:1 Pinterest Board is one of my favorites. Thanks so much for maintaining it. 🙂
I might pee my pants with excitement about this website.. HA! THANK you so much for sharing!! I cannot wait to use it next week and my kiddos will LOVE it! It opens so many possibilities for nonfiction reading and writing! 🙂
Amelia
wherethewildthingslearn
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. 🙂
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 🙂 🙂 🙂
Wow! Thanks for sharing! You said you signed up all your students; did you register each student, or will you guide them through the process?
Hi, Kelley! Great question. I actually went ahead and entered all 94 of my kids. It took me about an hour, but to me, it was worth it. I went ahead and put the kid's usernames on Avery Labels, so I can add them to the inside of their agendas. 🙂 -Catherine
Oh my goodness! I am super excited. I can't wait to put it to use. I teach an enrichment class and this would be a good way to differentiate what they are reading.
Thank you so much for sharing,
Laura
TIPS: Teach, Inspire, and Prepare Students
This looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!
This looks amazing! Thank you so much. I can't wait to check it out!
Its really nice. I found some good blogs for reading. I make a blog for reading. its really interesting blog with good content. http://www.articles4al.blogspot.com/
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