NewsBank KidsPage and Connections for Kids Elementary Curriculum Support Reading & Writing in the Content Areas Critical Thinking & Research Skills Research-based, Best Practices State Standards

NewsBank KidsPage and Connections for Kids Provides Articles on a variety of curriculum related topics Hundreds of activities with projects Critical thinking and research tools

NewsBank KidsPage We’ll cover: What is it? Why use it? How to use it? We’ll cover: What is it? Why use it? How to use it?

What is NewsBank KidsPage? An online program providing expansive coverage of elementary curriculum topics from multiple perspectives and diverse sources for early readers Develop critical thinking/research skills Target state learning standards Integrate technology Connect classroom curriculum to the real world!

Broad Curriculum Coverage

Sources for Early Readers Diverse Sources Magazines News media Maps Reference Spanish language sources Updated on a regular basis to stay current!

Why Use NewsBank KidsPage? Current events Research projects Update print materials Capture students’ interests Inquiry-based projects Discuss people in the news

Benefits for Teachers & Students Save time! Make curriculum more relevant Develop critical thinking skills Improve research skills

How do I use NewsBank KidsPage? Go to and click on NewsBank KidsPagehttp://infoweb.newsbank.com or to your library webpage

Five Powerful Search Methods Keyword Phrase Boolean Topic Lexile/Reading Level

Keyword Search 1. Enter your search term mars 2. Select Most Recent Matches 3. Click GO 4. See most recent articles containing the term 1. Enter your search term mars 2. Select Most Recent Matches 3. Click GO 4. See most recent articles containing the term

Keyword (cont’d) 1. See most recent articles containing the term 2. Click an article headline or view articles by specific reading level 1. See most recent articles containing the term 2. Click an article headline or view articles by specific reading level

Keyword (cont’d) 1. Select an article to view 2. Articles may be printed or copied. 1. Select an article to view 2. Articles may be printed or copied.

Phrase Search 1. Enter your phrase “life cycles” 2. Be sure to use quotation marks 3. Select best matches 4. Click GO 1. Enter your phrase “life cycles” 2. Be sure to use quotation marks 3. Select best matches 4. Click GO

Phrase Search (cont’d) 1. See articles with the complete phrase “life cycles” 2. Lexile/reading level displays before each article 1. See articles with the complete phrase “life cycles” 2. Lexile/reading level displays before each article

Phrase Search (cont’d) 1. Select an article to view 2. Articles may be printed or copied 1. Select an article to view 2. Articles may be printed or copied

Boolean Search Allows you to combine two or more keywords to get the best results! AND EXAMPLE: Egypt and mummies narrows by retrieving only documents containing both terms

Boolean Search 1. Search using egypt and mummies 2. Narrows results by including only articles containing both terms 1. Search using egypt and mummies 2. Narrows results by including only articles containing both terms

Boolean Search (cont’d) 1. See list of articles that contain both terms 2. Click an article headline 1. See list of articles that contain both terms 2. Click an article headline

Boolean Search (cont’d) 1. See the complete article 2. Articles may be printed or copied. 1. See the complete article 2. Articles may be printed or copied.

Topic Search 1. Click a broad topic like Communities and Customs 1. Click a broad topic like Communities and Customs

Topic Search Click a subtopic like Holidays and Celebrations Click a subtopic like Holidays and Celebrations

Topic Search 1. See list of articles 2. Click a headline 1. See list of articles 2. Click a headline

Topic Search 1. See the complete article 2. Articles may be printed or copied. 1. See the complete article 2. Articles may be printed or copied.

Lexile/Reading Level Search Search for articles on all reading levels or select a Reading Level or a Lexile Score for specific results.Search for articles on all reading levels or select a Reading Level or a Lexile Score for specific results.

The Value of NewsBank KidsPage Covers 100’s of curriculum topics Relevant, reliable information –diverse sources –authoritative sources, advertising-free Save time! Introduce research/critical thinking skills Target state learning standards

We’ll cover: What is it? Why use it? How to use it? We’ll cover: What is it? Why use it? How to use it?

What is TCR Connections for Kids? Online tools/activities based on research-based practices for reading and writing in the content areas. Featuring NewsBank’s diverse publications for early readers (levels 1-6) and primary sources Helps teachers... Develop critical thinking and research skills Target state learning standards Connect curriculum to the real world!

Curriculum Coverage

Why Use TCR Connections for Kids? Reading strategies for success in social studies, science, etc. Standards requiring critical thinking Update textbooks Tap into students’ interests Introduce research skills/process Use tools to develop your own great technology-based lesson plans

Apply Research-based Best Practices Integrate content and higher-order process skills... Content declarative knowledge academic content Process reading/writing skills thinking skills cognitive skills

How Do I Use TCR Connections for Kids? Go to and click on TCR Connections for Kids or to your library webpage

Two Main Components Tools Activities - critical thinking - content literacy

500+ Activities 1. Select a subject area, like Plants and Animals 2. Select a topic and essential question 3. Notice over 100 activities provide dual language support (English - Spanish) 1. Select a subject area, like Plants and Animals 2. Select a topic and essential question 3. Notice over 100 activities provide dual language support (English - Spanish)

Easy to follow Logical critical thinking process Easy to follow Logical critical thinking process Five Step Learning Path 1. Start 2. Read 3. Collect 4. Show 5. Share

Photograph and essential question capture attention, challenge critical thinking and engage learners Activate prior knowledge Key vocabulary for pre-teaching Photograph and essential question capture attention, challenge critical thinking and engage learners Activate prior knowledge Key vocabulary for pre-teaching

Read feature article Lexile and reading level appear for each article Article displays full-text Read feature article Lexile and reading level appear for each article Article displays full-text

Self Check - comprehension and vocabulary skills from state tests, auto-scored Reading Coach - embedded content literacy support Self Check - comprehension and vocabulary skills from state tests, auto-scored Reading Coach - embedded content literacy support

Collect from multiple sources Model effective Boolean searches Collect from multiple sources Model effective Boolean searches

Activity Step #4 - Show analyze, organize, synthesize links to graphic organizer analyze, organize, synthesize links to graphic organizer

Activity Step #5 - Share apply knowledge in project assume real-world role performance rubric for writing/speaking skills apply knowledge in project assume real-world role performance rubric for writing/speaking skills

Tools: Overview NewsBank Home – search a database of hundreds of primary sources NewsBank ToolKit - graphic organizers for organizing and analyzing; rubrics for planning and assessing projects Reading Coach - Embedded tutorials, tools for 17 reading comprehension skills News Headlines - News articles and daily lesson plans on current events World Maps country and state maps

NewsBank’s ToolKit Graphic Organizers – 19 –Models how to analyze, organize, synthesize –High-level reading and thinking strategies Projects –Rubrics for planning and assessing projects

Teacher View

State Educational Standards To reference standards: 1. Go to Teacher View 2. Select state 3. See all standards addressed by the activity To reference standards: 1. Go to Teacher View 2. Select state 3. See all standards addressed by the activity

Parent View: Homework Tips Online orientations Home online access! Parent View: Homework Tips Online orientations Home online access!

The Value of TCR Connections for Kids Target standards requiring critical thinking Research-based best practices for reading in the content areas Make AYP by linking assessment to curriculum

Advantages of TCR Connections for Kids Over the Web