Using Current Events in ELA to Engage Minds and Empower Voices

 

Several years ago, I was struggling to find a way to engage my students.  I had read quite a bit about how Kelly Gallagher used the Article of the Week in his classroom, and I tried that out for a couple of weeks, but found that it just wasn’t the right “fit” for my students.  BUT – I just knew that current events could be a game-changer in terms of engagement.  And it is! Not only does bringing current events breathe life into my lessons, but it also offers myriad opportunities to nurture critical thinking, foster communication skills, and empower students as informed global citizens.

1.      Real World Relevance: The foundation of ELA is rooted in the art of communication, both in reading and writing. Current events provide a genuine context for language arts lessons, connecting the classroom to the outside world.  When you combine this power with ELA skills, the possibilities of the uses of current events are endless!

2. Critical Thinking Skills:  Engaging with current events challenges students to think critically. They build media literacy through analyzing and evaluating information, discerning credible sources from unreliable ones, and considering multiple perspectives on an issue. This fosters the development of essential critical thinking skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. 

3.     Building Empathy and Awareness: Exploring current events introduces students to the diverse experiences and perspectives of people worldwide. It's an avenue to discuss global issues, which can inspire empathy and a sense of responsibility.

4.     Enhancing Communication Skills: Reading and discussing current events articles also supports the development of strong communication skills.  My students present a chosen topic each 9-week period and have to lead a discussion following the presentation.  BUT – you could also incorporate those speaking and listening strands through class debates, persuasive essays, or creative writing exercises among other activities. 

 

Once I decided to use current events, I had to figure out HOW I wanted to really make it count.  After quite a bit of trial and error, I came up with an assignment that allows students choice in their interests

AND meets standards within EVERY single ELA strand. 

 Students complete this assignment with slight variations each 9-week period.  The original assignment I used is in my TpT store, and you can find that HERE. I also have a FREE question sheet you can use with any current event.  You can find that FREE Question Sheet HERE.   I’ve altered this assignment since the original, but the tenets of the assignment are the same: reading, annotating, writing and presenting and leading a discussion.  My current assignment adds in a more research-based approach.  Added to these requirements, students have to create a works cited page and include parenthetical citations.  If you are interested in the updates, be sure you are following my TpT store  – these are on my to-do list!

That said, what works for me may not work for you.  Read on for other ways to use current events...

4 Ways to Integrate Current Events in your classroom:

1. Nonfiction Tie-In to Literature
• Select news articles related to literature topics or themes you are currently teaching
• Have students read and analyze the articles for key points, bias, and persuasive techniques.  
• Encourage class discussions about the relevance of the news to their lives and how it ties to the literature in your classroom.
2. Develop Critical Thinking & Speaking and Listening Skills:
• Choose current hot topics of the day or week (better yet- ask students to bring ideas to class)
• Host informal small group or whole class discussions OR formal Socratic discussions
3. Creative Writing or Journal Prompts:
• Share news stories that inspire creative writing.
• Ask students to write short stories, essays, or poems based on the events or characters in the news.  This fosters creativity while connecting to real-world issues.
• Use a story in the news to create a journal prompt as a jumping point to tie to current class content.  This is one of my favorite things to do.

        4. Teach Different Types of Writing

• Argumentative Writing
• Select a controversial current event, such as climate change policies or school uniform debates.
• Assign students to research the topic and take a position.
• Have them write argumentative essays, using evidence from their research to support their stance.

• Descriptive Writing:

• Choose a recent event or place that's been in the news, like a natural disaster or a famous landmark.
• Ask students to write descriptive essays, vividly portraying the scene, emotions, and impact of the event.
• Encourage the use of sensory details and figurative language to make their writing more engaging.

• Informative Writing:
• Provide students with a news article or video on a complex issue, like advancements in artificial intelligence.
• Have them summarize the content and write informative reports or articles that explain the topic to a lay audience.
• Focus on clarity, organization, and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. 

Whether it's through analyzing news articles, debating contemporary issues, or crafting persuasive essays on relevant topics, the versatility of current events enhances the ELA learning experience. If you aren't already incorporating them, it's time to start – your students will thank you for it!