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Welcome!

Read! Achieve! Connect!

Welcome to The Decatur Daily’s Newspaper In Education site! Here you can connect to many resources that link newspapers to learning and literacy.
NIE aids literacy worldwide, with thousands of newspapers supplying papers to millions of students in classrooms. Teachers all over the United States use newspapers to teach reading, writing, current events, math, language arts, geography, English as a second language, and more.
Newspapers are a sort of “living textbook” for teachers because they are up-to-the-moment and community-based.

Our mission

The Decatur Daily aims through its Newspaper In Education program to work with educators, students, parents and others to improve literacy, increase student achievement, connect young people to the real world and affirm the role of a free press in society.

Greetings from The Decatur Daily’s general manager:

The Decatur Daily

Dear Readers,

The Decatur Daily is proud to offer a quality Newspaper In Education program. We believe that when teachers use newspapers in classrooms, students benefit. Students reading The Daily get timely information from a “real world” source created right in their community. Guided by their teachers, students are able to practice skills they are learning in reading, math, writing, science, social studies and other topics. Studies show that students score better on standardized tests when they use newspapers at school.

We want students to grow up to be lifelong readers who are engaged in their communities. We have invested in an excellent feature for young readers, Kid Scoop. One local teacher said that her third-graders felt “important” when they used Kid Scoop activities in the newspaper. That is music to our ears because all children are important. That is why The Daily supports Newspaper In Education in area schools.

I hope that educators, parents, grandparents and partners in the community will join us in making The Daily an indispensable tool for literacy. Sponsorship information is available on this Web site.

Sincerely,

Clint Shelton
General Manager

Daily photo by Jonathan Palmer
Kid Scoop gets Zhian Malone Birdsong’s attention, with the help of Newspaper In Education Coordinator Melanie Smith and Zhian’s mother, Chaka Malone. Zhian attends Banks-Caddell Elementary School.

Why NIE?

Teachers who have used The Daily in their classrooms say it best:

“It’s a very effective tool.” Wendy Lang, Frances Nungester Elementary

“(The newspapers) are hot items,” Gene Hamilton, Horizon High School

“We use The Daily to relate modern day issues with ancient issues.” Jamie Penley, Oak Park Middle School

“It’s a vehicle to help expose (students) to other places.” Mia Miller, Brookhaven Middle School

“Students … became more involved in the community because of it. It also helped with their reading skills.” Roberta Graham, Adult ESL through Calhoun Community College

“My class absolutely loves getting the newspaper. They eagerly awaited each edition of the (Cody and Tip) mystery series and are enjoying the Tuesday editions immensely. The Kid Scoop page is excellent and has spurred interest with even the most reluctant learners.” Karen Free, Moulton Middle School

“I really appreciate getting the newspaper for my students. We are having a great time using it to look for letters … and looking at the weather report … The Kid Scoop page is wonderful. Thanks again for all you folks at The Decatur Daily do to make our job of educating tomorrow’s leaders an easier job.” Belinda Lowery, Banks-Caddell Elementary

No source of news and information is so complete, accessible and in tune to you, your communities and your schools as is a local newspaper. In The Decatur Daily you and your learners can read fresh reports about your town, your state, your country and your world.
The Decatur Daily’s Newspaper In Education program helps bridge the gap between textbooks and the “real world.” Students can do hands-on activities to improve their skills in reading, writing, math, current events, geography, language arts and almost any other subject.
Schools and teachers need and want materials to aid in standards-based instruction. The Alabama Course of Study for English Language Arts, for instance, requires fourth-graders to interpret passages in printed material (such as distinguishing fact from opinion), to demonstrate literal understanding of print material (such as identifying a sequence of events) and to read materials encountered in their daily lives. A newspaper is a wonderful, real-world source for teachers to use to meet such standards.

More Why

A recent study by the University of Minnesota and the Newspaper Association of America Foundation found that students who use newspapers scored 10 percent better on standardized tests. Minority students who used newspapers frequently did 29 percent better.

Check out the NAA report:
www.naafoundation.org/pdf/measuresuccess

Teachers/Sign-up

Teachers, you can use the newspaper for standards-based teaching in your classrooms.
Teachers all over the world use newspapers to help students apply what they learn in classrooms to the real world. Alabama education standards require that students use learning materials beyond textbooks, such as newspapers.
The Decatur Daily’s Newspaper In Education program provides papers and instructional ideas for teachers to use in classrooms. For example, Kid Scoop, our weekly page for young people, prints fun learning activities plus the instructional standard each activity meets. Our in-paper serial stories and extra instructional materials also provide learning activities that link to specific Alabama standards.

Educators, if you are not already getting classroom papers, sign up to get The Decatur Daily delivered to your school:

1. Are you a teacher in a school in Morgan, Lawrence or Limestone counties?
2. If so, complete this form to sign up for sets of newspapers for your classroom. The Decatur Daily delivers papers to schools for teachers to use in instruction.
3. Click “send.” The Newspaper In Education coordinator, Melanie Smith, or a circulation staff member will call or e-mail you to verify the submission.

Decatur Daily Newspaper In Education Sign-Up Form coming soon.

Parents/Grandparents

Your children and grandchildren can become better readers and learners. How? First ask yourself:

  • Can my young people find Afghanistan or Iraq on a map?
  • Do they know what kind of jobs Alabama leaders are seeking to bring to the state?
  • Can they name an issue community officials are debating and tell why it’s controversial?

    Your students can learn about such current topics in the newspaper. They can also practice reading and other skills, find out the latest in science and technology, and learn what is going on where they live.
    Reading The Decatur Daily gives people of all ages a broader view of their town, their country and their world. For instance, one recent section of The Daily covered a baby tiger’s birth in Lawrence County, Decatur’s unique “Trail of History,” a secret government court and the discovery that pigeons helped collapse a Mississippi River bridge.
    To help you identify appropriate stories to read to or with your young people, The Daily identifies a story each weekday as a NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION/Recommended Reading article. Each is picked to be child-friendly, interesting and educational.
    As parents or grandparents who care about young people, you or anyone can support Newspaper In Education by becoming a sponsor. Click here to learn more. A simple way to support NIE is to donate your vacation papers to schools. Call 340-2410 to participate.

    Daily photo by Jonathan Palmer
    Terracia King reads from The Decatur Daily’s health section in Heather Tucker’s class at Austin High School.

    Sponsors

    Become a sponsor! Help The Decatur Daily sponsor newspapers for teachers and students in local schools. Depending on your level of support, you will be recognized in The Daily and/or here at our Web site. Your company logo or name could be published on Kid Scoop, our weekly in-paper feature for children and teachers.
    Every week, more than 5,000 copies of The Daily go into classrooms in 50 local schools.
    Call Charles Rogers at 340-2354 or e-mail him at charles.rogers@decaturdaily.com for information about sponsorship levels and ways The Daily and schools will say “Thank you.”
    A simple way to support Newspaper In Education is to give schools the copies of The Daily that would have been delivered to you while you are on vacation. Call 340-2410 to participate.
    The Decatur Daily helps underwrite much of the expense of producing and delivering newspapers to classrooms for use by teachers and learners.

    Tours/Workshops/Classroom Visits

    The Decatur Daily welcomes tour groups. The Daily’s librarian, Michelle Tanner, conducts the tours, which last about 45 minutes. Call Michelle at 340-2450.
    The Daily provides fun, hands-on workshops to give teachers ideas for using newspapers in classrooms. If you are a teacher interested in a workshop, e-mail Melanie Smith at msmith@decaturdaily.com. She will contact you about the next date.
    Would your school like a visit from a reporter or a photographer? That can be arranged on a limited basis. Call Melanie Smith, 340-2468, or e-mail her at msmith@decaturdaily.com.

    NIE Contests/Submissions

    No Newspaper In Education contests are currently going on. Please check back later.

    Kid Scoop

    Kid Scoop is an in-paper activity page for young people. It appears on Tuesdays in The Decatur Daily. Each week, Kid Scoop features a theme with clever activities built around a topic.
    “Weekly Writing Corner” on Kid Scoop is a place for local student writing. Each activity is labeled with the academic standard that it helps meet. “Extra! Extra” and “Beyond Kid Scoop” activities get young readers using the whole newspapers.
    Teachers who participate in NIE get a free “Teacher Scoop” e-mailed to them by The Daily.
    Check out the Kid Scoop page on Tuesdays to learn more and to find out how to submit student writing.
    Go to www.kidscoop.com for more activities, information and teaching ideas.

    Parade Classroom

    Parade Classroom is a special feature from The Daily’s “Parade” Sunday magazine. The Web site www.paradeclassroom.com provides quality classroom activities that use the news. Current events quizzes, lessons, weekly teacher guides, supplements and more help learners grasp issues.
    Parade Classroom’s free, downloadable Teacher’s Handbook includes teaching ideas using advice columns and sports, character-building suggestions and skill-building activities in writing, geography, vocabulary and more.
    Check out www.paradeclassroom.com.

    Learning Activities Using Newspapers

    Try some of these activities using The Decatur Daily:

    1. Select five articles from the newspaper with headlines that clearly present the main idea of the article. Each student should use a different part of the newspaper. (Several issues may be needed.) Cut the headlines from the articles, place all 10 pieces in an envelope and trade envelopes with another student. The reading task is to match each article with its headline. (Alabama Language Arts standard: Interpret and construct meaning by applying appropriate strategies to materials across the curriculum, such as identifying main idea)

    2. Look at a sports section. How many synonyms can you find for “win” and “lose”? Why do you think sports writers use so many colorful synonyms? Can you think of more synonyms for win and lose? (Alabama Language Arts standard: Develop an extended vocabulary through reading … Use synonyms.)

    3. Select a community problem to study for a period of time. Collect stories from the newspaper about the issue, including news articles, advertisements and editorials. How do you think the issue should be resolved? Write an editorial supporting your point of view. (Alabama Language Arts standard: Express personal feelings, opinions and information in formal, informal and interpersonal situations. Social Studied standard: Explain how the United states can be improved by individual and collective participation … such as writing letters.)

    4. Select three apartments or houses listed in the classified ads for rent. Compute the total rent for a year for each apartment. Determine the average monthly rent based on apartments you selected. Which appears to be the better choice for the money? Why? (Alabama Math standard: Solve word problems that involve decimals, fractions or money.)

    5. Pick a character from the comics who would make an interesting candidate for a public office. Make a campaign sign or write a campaign speech supporting the candidate. Use some of the character’s words in your work. Share your sign or speech with your class. Discuss: What words used would make you want to vote for a person? (Alabama Language Arts standard: Recognize the power of language as it evokes emotion; expands thinking; and influences problem-solving, decision-making and action.)

    SOURCE: NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA FOUNDATION

    Want more? Here are some great links:

    www.kidscoop.com
    This site links to an in-paper feature for youths provided by The Decatur Daily, Kid Scoop. Each Tuesday Kid Scoop offers fun learning activities. Teachers and parents can appreciate the tie-ins to learning standards that Kid Scoop provides. The Web site offers extra activities, games and writing ideas for children.

    www.naaf.org
    The Newspaper Association of America Foundation tells the benefits of Newspaper In Education. Teachers and parents will find learning activities, lesson plans, research and newspaper guides. Student journalists will find helps for creating school newspapers.

    Paradeclassroom.com
    Here you will find weekly current events quizzes, lesson plans on current topics and news stories, teaching tips, reproducible skill sheets, activities for the classroom and at home, free supplements on topics like astronomy and health, and more.

    www.decaturdaily.com
    Look here for today’s headlines and for news about your school, district and community. The Daily’s archive section provides many local stories from recent years.

    www.mydecaturdaily.com
    This free Web site lets schools and others submit articles, photos and announcements.

    Original Serial Stories

    Melanie Smith, The Daily’s NIE coordinator, has written two original stories, published as serials in the newspaper and now archived online.

    Each chapter concludes with activities using the newspaper, giving teachers and parents opportunities to guide real-world learning. The activities build children’s skills in reading, math, writing and science.

  • “Cody, Tip and the Rusty Truck Mystery,” nine chapters published Aug. 27-Sept. 7, 2007

  • “The Bug Campaign: Just a Little Respect!,” eight chapters published June 10-July 29, 2008

    Have a question about Newspaper In Education? Feedback? Ideas?

    Contact us:

    Melanie Smith
    Newspaper In Education Coordinator
    The Decatur Daily
    P.O. Box 2213
    Decatur, AL 35609-2213
    (256) 340-2468

    msmith@decaturdaily.com

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