Newspapers offer hands-on opportunities in classrooms

• Newspaper in Education

Gerry Hoelscher, 5th grade teacher at Woodland Elementary School, uses newspapers in his classroom regularly.

Talk about it

Newspaper in Education Week is observed annually to recognize the important role newspapers play in classrooms. This year’s observance is March 7-11.

“In all their forms, newspapers remain one of the most remarkable, multifaceted and effective educational resources available to teachers,” noted the Newspaper Association of America Foundation. “In their print, e-edition or Web versions, newspapers expose students to an ever-widening range of subjects and give teachers fresh resources for teaching both core and enrichment topics.”

The Echo Press, with the help of the community and area businesses, supports Newspapers in Education by putting newspapers in area classrooms.

So far this school year, the Echo Press has delivered 11,476 newspapers to participating classrooms at the School District 206 schools of Jefferson, Voyager, Woodland, Lincoln as well as the Runestone Regional Learning Center, St. Mary’s, Carlos, Brandon, Evansville and Garfield schools.

Gerry Hoelscher uses the Echo Press in his 5th grade classroom at Woodland Elementary School in Alexandria. Following are some things his students had to say about the newspaper:

My favorite article was about the 15 year old who wrote a book and got it published! It makes me think that might happen to me if I try hard! ~ Emalee Driemeyer

My favorite section is Life because it tells about people that are either making a difference or that have had something happen to their family. ~ Abby Bartosiewski

My favorite article would have to be the 2010-2011 spelling bee, because I was in it and I won a medal. My favorite section is the classifieds. I love seeing what is for sale like puppies or houses. ~ Andrew Martinson

My favorite writer is Al Edenloff. He always puts a smile on my face. My favorite section of the newspaper is the front page. I love reading all of the top news in Alex. ~ Emma Albers

I liked the article where the skid loader fell through the ice at Noonan’s and then the tow truck came and got it out. ~ Jaden Schoep

Thank you for donating newspapers every week to my class. I love reading them in my free time at school! At first I didn’t like newspapers, but then I read one of yours and now I love them! ~ Allison O’Kane

My favorite articles are sports because my brother is on the swimming team. ~ Jared Wallin

I like the opinion section because it tells what people are thinking. I love Jo Colvin’s work, she is fantastic. I like her work because she tells different things about everyday life. ~ Heather Gades

I really like how Eric Morken writes his articles about sports. When he writes it inspires me to write about sports. ~ Lindsey Knoll

We always read the newspaper every Wednesday and Friday. I love to read the newspaper! ~ Isabelle Erickson

My favorite article is the wrestling because I am a wrestler since I was 3 and in 2009 I was the state champion. ~ Chandler Cole

My favorite section was the Classifieds because it has the Sudoku on it and the Crossword puzzles, which I can’t seem to figure out. ~ Megan Schneider

My favorite section in the newspaper is the sports because I am a boy and most boys like sports. ~ Sam Smith

My favorite section is the classifieds because I like looking at what animals are for sale. ~ Tawni Laughnan

My favorite professional writer is Amy Chaffins because she writes good and perfect articles and that’s my opinion! ~ Megan Schneider

Tags: life, newspapers, education