Programs and Projects for Educators
For more than 20 years, The News-Journal´s Newspaper In Education (NIE) program has invested in education in Volusia and Flagler counties by helping students master basic skills while discovering their world. The following projects and programs are provided as an education service by The News-Journal:
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Adriana Arreola , 16 and in 10th grade, helps with an art project made of newspapers Friday, April 22, 2005, as part of an earth day celebration at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School in Pierson. Polly Steeves, the art teacher, says that the project shows how you can turn trash such as newspapers into a piece of art. (Photo: N-J/Chad Pilster) |
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Bright Ideas Contest
In cooperation with the Volusia County Reading Council, the NIE program sponsors a contest to solicit from teachers best practices using the newspaper. Elementary, middle, high school and exceptional education teachers annually enter the Bright Ideas contest. Winning teachers receive classroom subscriptions to The News-Journal, a year's membership in the Reading Council and an amazing collection of gifts. Winners and their principals are treated to a celebration dinner at a local restaurant where they describe their ideas.
Community Involvement
The NIE staff serves on the boards of community groups such as: chambers of commerce, reading council, literacy council, etc.
Families and the News is the program which provides newspapers to the homes of students enrolled in participating classrooms without cost to schools or families. Since its inception, tens of thousands of families have profited from this enriching project. Families and the News was the first U.S. NIE program to win the prestigious World Young Readers' Award.
Florida Quest
Laptop Lauren and the Trackers are the main characters in the Florida Quest, a 4-week, multi-media project involving thousands of students in Volusia and Flagler counties. It is sponsored by WCEU, The News-Journal, and the schools. The students sharpen their reading, writing, and research skills by exploring local sites of historical and cultural importance.
The Mini Page
Each Monday The News-Journal publishes Betty Debnam´s syndicated feature, The Mini Page — a full page of activities and information revolving around a theme of interest to students. Parents, teachers and students use The Mini Page as an integral part of student learning activities. A special box provides FCAT-type questions about the information on the page.
NIEWorld.com
This is the award-winning, online home of The News-Journal's NIE Program. It has sections for teachers, students and parents that provide information, learning links and activities. Features on the web site include:
· "Hot Issues and Cool Ideas," a set of more than 125 original, newspaper-centered activities aligned to the Sunshine State Standards, with links to actual News-Journal articles about the topics.
· Discussion questions related to The Mini Page.
· Activities and information related to the current serial story being carried in The News-Journal.
· Sections devoted to specific curriculum areas such as: career connections, social studies, science, etc.
· Connections to community links such as: the Volusia District Schools, the Volusia County Reading Council, the Volusia Literacy Council, etc.
· Connections to other professional organizations such as: FNIEC (Florida Newspaper in Education Coordinators, Inc.), NAA (Newspaper Association of America), etc.
Passport to the World
Each week social studies classes are provided with a four-level quiz about recent news events in the following categories: World, United States, Florida, Space/Science, Sports, and Miscellaneous. These questions are used as the basis of competition questions at the Social Studies Fair. This site is password protected. For information contact Nancy Govoni.
Pigskin Geography
These seasonal programs combine sports action with a variety of teaching aids to get students involved.
Presentations and Displays
The NIE program actively participates in many community events such as the Mardi Gras on Main Street Parade, the Children's Expo, the Garden Show, Debary Youth Celebration of the Arts, etc. Staff members make numerous presentations at local, state and national conferences and hold training sessions at local schools and universities for teachers, students, parents, and interested community members.
Publications
The program offers more than 75 tabs and study guides in almost every subject area and grade level from kindergarten through adult learners.
Read and Recycle
Great ideas for re-using the newspaper!
Weekends on Wednesdays
This program is open to reading, language arts and media specialists in middle and high schools. Each participating classroom receives a class set of Wednesday's News-Journals, lesson plans and USA Weekends, the life-style magazine published with Sunday's paper.
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