CNN+Student+News+in+the+Classroom

Monico De Leon TEED 540 July 1, 2009 ** TEACHING RESOURCES **
 * CLASS: ** I student taught in a special education classroom that was pretty much a social studies class. However, I did also have a language arts class, a social skills class, and an academic lab period. For the most part, I was a history teacher.
 * IDEAS: ** The various resources I used went hand-in-hand with all the subjects I taught. The resources deal with both historical content and language arts. The one I found to be most successful and can be transferrable to different grade levels was the CNN Student News. Of course, this resource can only be use in classrooms where technology is readily available.
 * RESOURCE: ** CNN Student News. This resource presents students with daily news clips from the U.S. and around the world. Several things are embedded within the ten minute news cast such as trivia, shout outs, word of the day, and final word. The students were very receptive to this period of the class. At the end of the broadcast, I provided additional trivia questions. Students were rewarded by getting candy or Titan cards (these cards could be traded for popcorn or smoothies on Friday thank to the schools PTSA).
 * RESOURCE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: ** I usually don’t like to reward students for doing what they are supposed to be doing, I know, harsh. However, I quickly learned that my students had been programmed to respond to rewards, these rewards were in the form of candy. My cooperating teacher used to give out candy for even the smallest thing like changing the date on the board. I continued with this practice but added a twist to it. The rewards will now have to be earned. I noticed the students’ attention in class became more focused. A healthy sense of competition was established. The students who answered more questions received a few more pieces of candy, but in the end, all students received a reward.
 * TRANSFERENCE TO OTHER SUBJECTS: ** CNN Student News can be used in other classes not just in history classes. Conversation can spark critical thinking, this can occur in any setting. The reward system is introduced to us very early in school; it is not a new concept.