About NIE
What is NIE?
NIE stands for Newspaper in Education.
NIE gets newspapers into classrooms. The National Institute for Literacy estimates that 23 percent of adults in Yakima County, our core distribution area, are at the lowest literacy level.
The Newspaper in Education program’s purpose and objective is a focus on the future: promoting literacy among our community’s youth, so that tomorrow’s workforce and citizens are better equipped to interact and lead in society. We bring the real world to the classroom by teaching life-long learning skills, which produce a large and measurable impact among students.
Research conducted by the University of Minnesota and presented by the Newspaper Association of America in 2002 showed that students in classrooms where teachers used newspapers as a learning tool scored an average of 10 percent higher on standardized tests than students in classrooms not participating in Newspaper in Education programs. In fact, middle schools with large minority populations that involve at least 1/3 of the students in NIE programs scored nearly 30 percent higher than students from similar schools with no NIE programs.
NIE newspapers and services are available to all kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, both pubic and private, within the Yakima Herald-Republic’s distribution area: Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat and Benton counties.
Teachers
Have you heard the buzz about newspaper in education?
Recent research conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that students in classrooms where the teacher used newspapers as a learning tool scored an average of 10% higher on standardized tests than students in classrooms without a Newspaper in Education program.
Take a look at a pdf version of the report here. (Provided courtesy of NAA.)
Teacher Testimonials
I have had the fabulous privilege of receiving newspapers from the Yakima Herald Republic for 2 years through their NIE program. I am a Special Education teacher at Davis High School and work with students who are anywhere from 2 to 4 years below grade level in reading and writing. Being able and discuss the news everyday in our classroom has been a blessing and an indescribable asset to their development in reading informational text. Informational text is measured on our state assessment, and so having regular access to this type of print is invaluable in my being able to help them prepare for and practice with it. I am grateful everyday for the newspaper. It has changed my classroom and instruction.
~Jeanne Coady, Davis High School
We use the newspaper in a variety of ways. For math, students have checked ads then added prices of certain items, sometimes with tax or price the modern 12 Days of Christmas, etc. For Language Arts, they have looked for parts of speech like verbs, adjectives, etc. or for types of writing like persuasive. They have checked the rising of the sun/moon and kept a log. They have created their own comic strips using the paper as a model. They also read the paper for pleasure then discuss the “hot” topics. But our favorite this year has been reading Robyn’s Report. The weekly chapter kept the kids’ attention and was a great motivator. The chance to use the newspaper in the classroom gives students an opportunity that many would not otherwise have…
~Shari Fletcher, Discovery Lab
Thank you to the Yakima Herald-Republic for providing my students with over 5 years of newspapers for our classroom. During that time, and with the help of the NIE program, I’ve been able to introduce over 1000 kids to the newspaper. If the program had not been available most of them would only have access to current events via the television or computer. The tactile experience of holding something concrete in their hands and then taking the time to root out facts and opinions is something that students today seldom experience. I expect to continue our relationship as long as I’m in a classroom because I feel strongly that newspapers have had, and will continue to have had, and will continue to have, a positive effect on my students. I sincerely appreciate the strong role that you and the YHR play in this scenario.
~Ed Stolarik, Naches Valley Middle School
We are thankful students at Kirkland Academy for Excellence. We thank you for the newspapers you donated to us. Without them we wouldn’t have known about the tragic oil spill. That information came in handy. So thank you again for your generous support.
~Conner Herrera and Fenisha Williams, Students from Kirkland Academy for Excellence
The NIE program has proven to be very valuable to my students and their understanding of the needs and concerns of our local community as well as those of the rest of our world. The opportunity to participate is greatly appreciated.
~Mike Meyer, Wilson Middle School
I am a teacher at Adams Elementary. I teach 4th grade, and currently use the Yakima Herald Republic in my classroom. Some of the uses I have with my students are, math activities related with adding and estimating with the Sunday ads; discussions about the current events in the valley; Students write essays and letters of support about the issues in the valley and have students respond to articles and support or opposition to given topics in the valley and the nation. As you can see I have many uses of the Yakima Herald Republic in my classroom. I truly appreciate the opportunity to share it with my students. Thank you…
~Mrs. Guzman, Adams Elementary Wapato School District
Want to thank your sponsor?
Distribution of the newspapers would be next to impossible without the help of our sponsors. If you’d like to thank those community members and organizations who contribute to Newspaper in Education, please let them know! Just click here to send us an e-mail, and we’ll pass on your thanks!
