Fresh off the press! Being aware of current events is just as critical for kids as it is for adults. In fact, Common Sense Media finds that young people actually enjoy following the news, as 78% of teens reported that they try to keep up with national and local updates. However, a majority of these teens find the bulk their information through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as Youtube from celebrities and influencers. A Grade Ahead encourages our students to follow the news to improve critical and analytical thinking skills. We also want to make sure our students look in the right places to find quality, age-appropriate news sources for students! In fact, in our upper-level English programs, students cover journalism and learn about how to tell reliable sources from unreliable sources.
Studies also discovered that teens prefer media sources with visual aids over lengthy articles. Therefore, we made a list of reputable news websites that are geared specifically towards student-age consumers. With these dependable sources, you can help your children stay up-to-date and learn valuable skills. Keep reading for A Grade Ahead‘s recommendations for news sources for students!
The Best News Sources for Students to Stay Informed
1. Time for Kids
Time Magazine is a subscription magazine for adults that has expanded its reach to kids. Time for Kids publishes articles on about a variety of topics based on your child’s interests: science, pop culture, nature, sports, etc. This source mostly writes for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. It’s multimedia friendly, too, and includes a great variety of photos, videos, and articles in order to align with your state’s educational standards.
2. NBC Learn
NBC is a highly-rated news broadcast network, but has been historically catered to adults. However, these reporters have begun reporting to kids using interesting videos and eye-catching topics! Many of the top stories have to do with history, literature, and science, among other things. The education division of this network provides news for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. This is a great resource for the kids out there who love to receive news visually!
3. The Learning Network
The New York Times is one of the most famous and popular newspapers in the United States. The company now dispatches news to young people in aesthetically pleasing and simple ways while still keeping things factual. Many of their stories involve surveying young people to find common trends. Additionally, they take time to explain complex issues in depth so that kids can understand too. The Learning Network is recommended for teens. On this website, readers can expect to find lots of pictures, charts, and short articles.
4. PBS Newshour Extra
This website is a fantastic source for news because its stories cater to students and teachers in upper-grade levels (specifically 6-12!). Popular national television networks don’t have time to hit on every newsworthy issue in the world, so PBS has made it possible for teens to learn more about international events and find current events related to material learned in class! PBS Newshour Extra offers a good compilation of articles and videos for students to engage with.
5. Student News Daily
Students have become increasingly interested in politics, which makes sense considering how often political stories are covered in the news. It’s important for students to receive bipartisan facts to think critically and form opinions about current issues in the world. Student News Daily focuses on political events while keeping the information civil and appropriate for high school students. Also, students who love to read prefer this website over others!
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Again, we believe that it’s important students get their news from reputable sources, both because being able to do this is a highly useful skill in higher education and because it’s important to be well-informed citizens. Relying on social media and Youtube for news isn’t a great strategy for students, as a large amount of these articles are biased and opinionated, rather than factual. That is why it is our mission at A Grade Ahead to provide our students with the best resources to stay updated on current events.
Parents, you can be reporters, too! What news sources do your children use to keep up with current events? What do they love about them? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: Morgan L., Writer at A Grade Ahead
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