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Comment by Flocabulary on October 7, 2011 at 2:49pm

We wanted to share our most recent Week in Rap related activity, the Week in Map: http://blog.flocabulary.com/spotlight-on-the-week-in-map/

You can use it to teach geography with current events. 

Comment by Jeff Kohls on September 12, 2011 at 11:28pm

Here's the assignment for my last post.Assignment%20America.pdf

Comment by Jeff Kohls on September 11, 2011 at 8:34pm

A 9/11 assignment - I teach a class of seniors that meets every other day on a modified block schedule.  I had them on Wed and Fri of the week preceding 9/11.  The assignment was to go out into our rural community and interview people with specific questions relating to 9/11/01.  I also sent along video cameras for them to use if the interviewee obliged.  I will attach the paper my students used.  

In addition, on Friday, with the class of seniors, I had "story time" and read the children's book, 14 Cows for America.  2nd grade style, I moved the students to the front of the room, had them sit on the floor, and sat on a stool in the front.  After the initial giggles from the situation, they were riveted as I read the story, and by the end, you could've heard a pin drop.  It was an emotional time for sure.  

Comment by Nate Everett on June 30, 2011 at 11:45pm

I download CNN Student News on itunes and play it.  It's 10 minutes long but has a diversity of topics.  Mostly, the format is instructional, like daily 'shoutouts', 'is this legit?' and other quick filler segments. The drawback is that they film the night before, so when something happens suddenly, it isn't on until the other day.  That happened with the Japan earthquake. It's good for a Think, Pair, Share.  Also good for debate starters, depending on the topic. http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews/

Comment by Jeff Kohls on June 14, 2011 at 12:05am

Here's a daily news assignment that I use.Daily%20News%20Assignment.doc

Comment by Malissa Gore on June 2, 2011 at 12:56am

Thanks for the reply Jeff.  My school also uses Facts and File and I used articles from the Issues and Controversies for current events this past school year.  I had not thought of online newspapers.  Our school once got newspapers from The Times-Picayune but they discontinued school service following Hurricane Katrina. 

I recently found a new website called izzit.org that emails me daily current events and possible discussion questions.  I'm looking forward to introducing these into my class next year.

Comment by Jeff Kohls on June 1, 2011 at 11:57pm

Thanks Veronica, I'll check out the PBS Newshour link.

Comment by Veronica DeVore on May 23, 2011 at 12:51pm

Hi everyone!

I'd like to introduce you to our free current events educational offerings from the PBS NewsHour at pbs.org/newshour/extra. Take a look and let me know what you think!

I am especially wondering how you would use the "Student Voices" in the classroom and what might be missing to make them valuable teaching tools from your perspectives. Here are some examples: 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/world/jan-june11/egypt_0...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/us/jan-june10/oil_05-13....

 

Do you think those Student Voices could benefit from related worksheets, classroom activities, etc? What would be most valuable to you as teachers? Thanks!

Comment by Jeff Kohls on May 21, 2011 at 11:30am

Malissa,
I use several avenues to get current events. A very important one, and free one, is a regional major newspaper online service. They provide free subscriptions for each student, which allows access to the complete newspaper. I would suggest contacting a major newspaper in your area.

In addition, we use a pay service that Facts on File has, called Issues and Controversies. There is a yearly subscription cost for this, and its handled through our library. The latter may be written too high for middle school students.

There are also online news providers, BBC, CNN, etc that, obviously, are current in news reporting. Hope those help.

Comment by Malissa Gore on May 21, 2011 at 11:01am

I am really looking forward to being a part of this awesome group of educators.  Quick question - where is the best place to find current events or news about contemporary issues for middle school students - in other words, not so elementary and not too hard either?