Before the days of the 24-hour news cycle, our family always had the evening news on in the background while making dinner. There was always a newspaper open on the table before breakfast, especially on Sundays! That upbringing stuck with me. I am definitely an information junkie—I read everything I can get my hands on. But over time, we’ve become more cautious about how much “general news” we allow our children to absorb, both at home and in the classroom. Between the detailed coverage of violence and the endless discussion of scandal, there is very little time and space left to report about anything else. And the thought of having my students pull up a general news website makes me cringe!
However, I think you’ll have a difficult time finding a teacher that isn’t looking for ways to engage their students in the world around them. Reading about current events and talking about real-life situations is a critical part of our education.
It’s a real dilemma!
I recently connected with a local teacher using the Tween Tribune on a regular basis in her classroom. Where has this been all my life?!? The Tween Tribune was created by Smithsonian and posts several engaging, age-appropriate stories every day. The topics are diverse, and you can sort by age group or Lexile levels. The teacher I talked with was thrilled with the platform—she lets the students select articles that interest them each week, and the students complete a short quiz at the end. From science to sports to world news and beyond, there is something for everyone on the Tween Tribune. There is even a section called “TTJunior” for the K-4th grade crowd.
When I first visited the Tween Tribune website, it offered to send me a plethora of resources each week—from articles to lesson plans. Tween Tribune – you had me at “hello”!
