Teachers with students of all ages struggle to find creative ways to bring their lesson plans to life and keep their students engaged. Whether students get bored because they’re not challenged enough or because the topic simply does not hold their interest, incorporating new and unexpected content into the curriculum can help teach English to adults and younger students, and make learning fun again.
1. Bring Current Events into the Classroom
Inspire students to expand their critical thinking and offer them multiple perspectives on the news by incorporating expertly produced and award-winning journalism from reputable sources, like The New York Times. From economic and geopolitical developments to the latest in science and the arts, licensed content from The New York Times News Service can help students understand the world and develop a positive habit of learning and keeping up with current events.
Looking for some key educational content? Try licensing The Learning Network from The New York Times. Designed by educators and editors with deep and broad experience in the classroom and in curriculum development, The Learning Network from The New York Times provides rich and imaginative materials with ready-to-use exercises that will encourage students to express themselves and think critically with writing and visual prompts on everything from politics to pop culture.
2. Find Age-Appropriate Learning Resources
We know that kids "zone out" because the lesson material isn’t challenging enough, however, the opposite can also be true. Sometimes the curriculum is far too sophisticated for them which can feel overwhelming and cause students to want to give up.
How can you fix this issue and tackle concepts that are hard to grasp? Find learning resources for kids with real-world context that are suited to the grade level of your students. The right content will break down the subject matter in a way that promotes comprehension. And once a child is able to focus on what they’ve accomplished, they will be more likely to welcome challenging topics in the future and accelerate their learning journey.
The New York Times for Kids is a special print section from The New York Times that mimics the form of a conventional newspaper, and creates news content focusing on what matters most to younger readers. From learning how schools prepare for natural disasters to the best recipe for homemade slime, this special section can be licensed for classroom use to help incorporate creative methodologies for teaching with the news.
Scholastic, one of the world’s leading educational publishers, offers licensable content for educators, publishers, and organizations who seek to engage young readers with quality storytelling and trusted news coverage. Upfront is a classroom magazine that adapts news stories from The New York Times, offering students context on what’s happening in the world and exercises that explore why it’s relevant to them. Science World is another available title that contextualizes the latest breakthroughs in science and technology by connecting topical science news with essential biology, chemistry, earth science and physics concepts that students are likely to be learning in the classroom.
3. Liven Up E-Learning with Multimedia Content
The modern classroom, especially in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, relies heavily on personal technology, ed tech, and e-learning tools. In many cases, the lessons are self-directed by the student — on demand and at their own pace. While this certainly lends itself to convenience, it also poses the danger of having the student tune out and get disengaged. No one wants to listen to a talking head for hours on end! How do you keep students interested in e-learning? Pay attention to the formats kids interact most with on other platforms, like photos and videos, and use them in your e-lessons.
The New York Times Photo Service and The New York Times Videos are licensable for this purpose. Our visual photojournalism provides an intimate window into the worlds of art, entertainment, politics, technology and beyond. Use this unique and worldly multimedia content as the basis for writing or discussion prompts by asking students to describe or give their opinion on what’s happening in the images provided and sharpen their critical thinking and analysis skills.
4. Make Puzzles Part of the Lesson Plan
People of all ages love puzzles! We are all competitors at heart, especially against ourselves. The satisfaction of completing a puzzle has been scientifically proven to boost the levels of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) within our brains. Increased levels of dopamine can make us feel happier while improving memory and motivation.
For young minds, picture puzzles can be introduced to sharpen early learning skills, like visual perception and concentration, while building self-confidence that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Highlights Hidden Pictures are picture puzzles from Highlights Magazine that afford young minds the challenge of finding 10 or more hidden objects within a lively picture.
Older students will welcome the chance to escape to a different world with topical, wit-sharpening wordplay. Edited by the puzzle master Will Shortz, The New York Times Crossword puzzles can be used to engage students, from middle school level and up, with their clever themes and hidden puns. Frequent references to works of literature, art and classical music, as well as modern TV shows, movies and other touchstones of popular culture, can easily be tied to themes in any lesson plan.
5. Teach Students to Be Discerning
Fake news is prevalent everywhere, making it hard for the everyday consumer to distinguish fact from fiction. The importance of news for students has become more clear now than ever in helping students understand what is happening in the world around them, so they do not get caught up in fake news narratives. Additionally, the onslaught of talk show and opinion pieces can add to the confusion. By showcasing reputable news sources and authority content when teaching with the news, you can help students be discerning in the information they may encounter.
6. Teach English as a Second Language with Journalism
Articles from reputable newspapers like The New York Times are written and edited to the highest journalistic standards, making them the perfect English learning tool to build important language skills like grammar and vocabulary. You can engage English-language learners of all ages by using evergreen content, curated and paired with relevant media, and various news article examples for students for reading comprehension or discussion exercises.
As a private English-language tutor in Beijing, Sarah E. Elia is always searching for ways to get her students excited about learning English. Ms. Elia says The New York Times, with its diversity of interesting content, wide-ranging vocabulary and abundance of world news, is the perfect “textbook” for her tutoring sessions. A couple of years back, she wrote an article for The New York Times that explains more about how she uses Times articles in her tutoring sessions.
Learning English through newspaper articles is beneficial for students of different ages and backgrounds. Incorporating news articles for students can help students learners express complex ideas while giving them new vocabulary to leverage. Additionally, these articles can help students in their professional lives. By dissecting relevant industry topics such as business news or financial news, students will gain the necessary skills to apply their new language skills outside the classroom and into their careers.
Where Can I Find Good Articles for Students?
Below is a list of educational materials, where teachers can get articles to use in the classroom.
Scholastic
Through Licensing, your classroom can license the following titles from Scholastic:
- The New York Times Upfront: This publication makes journalistic integrity accessible to young minds. Students can practice their reading and writing skills, while gaining a deeper understanding of the context surrounding the news.
- ScienceWorld: Science World contextualizes the latest developments in research in a digestible format. This publication is ideal for students between the ages of 11-16.
Highlights: Hidden Pictures
Highlights: Hidden Pictures is designed for children 6 and up. Children are tasked with finding 10 or more hidden items, sharpening early learning skills. Puzzles are available in English and Spanish.
The Learning Network
The Learning Network leverages The New York Times journalism to engage students. Activities such as “Lesson of the Day” help students think critically about the news and the context of these articles.
The New York Times for Kids
The New York Times for Kids is a perfect fit for children between the ages of 8-13. The New York Times for Kids mimics a conventional newspaper, highlighting stories that are important for young readers.
The New York Times
For high school students, The New York Times can be a great addition to the curriculum, especially in the context of history and current events.
Take Your Educational Content to the Next Level
From ready-to-use solutions to individual articles and multimedia to comprehensive copyright licenses, NYTLicensing offers a wide range of educational content to help learners of all ages develop important skills using the highest quality journalism from The New York Times and the world’s leading educational brands. Use it to promote the development of English learning objectives like news literacy, writing styles, critical thinking, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, debate, research and more.
Frequently Asked Questions about Articles for Students
What Can Newspapers Be Used in the Classroom?
News articles for students serve many purposes, including keeping society informed about current events, developing critical thinking skills, learning new information, entertainment, inspiration, education, building language skills, and providing new perspectives and insights.
Where Do Students Get News?
There is an epidemic of fake news circulating. According to one informal poll, 74% of college students are getting their news from social media. With the emergence of Tik Tok and Reels on Instagram, students need to learn how to discern fact from fiction.
How Can We Use Educational Media?
Educational media can be used to supplement classroom instruction, provide personalized learning experiences, enhance engagement, facilitate distance learning, encourage collaboration, reinforce learning, and foster creativity.
How Can Students Engage With The News?
Students can engage with the news by reading articles, watching news programs, participating in class discussions, conducting research, completing writing assignments, creating multimedia projects, and participating in extracurricular activities. These activities can help develop critical thinking, communication, and research skills while keeping students informed about current events.
How Do You Incorporate Current Events Into the Classroom?
You can use the following three recommendations for teaching current events in the classroom:
1. Pull from credible news sources that cover a variety of topics, from world news to technology to food!
2. Encourage critical thinking skills. Ask students to read the articles, analyze them, and discuss their opinions openly in the classroom.
3. Integrate current events into lesson plans whenever possible. So if for example you’re teaching about the Bubonic Plague, you could relate that to COVID-19 in current events.
Why Is Media Important in Teaching and Learning?
News media can be used in class to enhance lectures, encourage discussion, or also be used as a take-home assignment for assessment. Incorporating news in print, video, photojournalism, and different media, can help students reinforce concepts and engage in communication inside the classroom.
