| Magazines created for elementary, middle school, and | | | | and monitor to some extent the information these |
| high school students are a great way to enhance | | | | young people are exposed to. If you have the |
| core curriculum studies with current, up-to-date | | | | money in your budget, or if you can find a |
| information. Periodicals have the ability to take into | | | | benefactor for your class, you may be able to |
| account current social trends among young people | | | | subscribe to a magazine or two and receive enough |
| while reflecting the latest advancements in | | | | copies for every student in your class - a great |
| educational theory.Between the "juvenile" and the | | | | motivation for kids.Offer magazines at different |
| "teen and young adult" categories, lists over a | | | | reading levels.Every classroom has students at a |
| hundred magazines devoted to people under the age | | | | variety of reading and maturity levels, and your |
| of eighteen; many of these are designed to meet | | | | collection of magazines needs to reflect that. Some |
| the educational needs of kids at the same time that | | | | magazines, such as Appleseeds Magazine, by |
| they entertain and inform. Science, math, history, | | | | Cobblestone & Cricket, have content suitable for |
| social studies, art, archeology, sports, and literature | | | | older kids who may be struggling with reading. You |
| are only a few of the topics covered. Adding some | | | | may also have students who are way beyond their |
| of these well-written, colorful magazines to the | | | | age level in terms of reading comprehension, and |
| classroom can keep young people excited about | | | | magazines are a great way to provide enrichment for |
| school and learning.Emphasize the use of magazines in | | | | these advanced students.Stay connected to your |
| your classroom.Subscribing to a number of these | | | | students by staying relevant.As young people |
| magazines is a great first step; but you can do more | | | | mature, they crave more independence, both in their |
| to integrate the periodicals into your classroom. Some | | | | school careers and in social areas, and can pull away |
| of the publishers offer free previews of upcoming | | | | from adults whom they see as uncaring or not |
| issues and curriculum guides that allow you to plan | | | | understanding of them. High-quality magazines and |
| your themes around specific issues. Beyond that, it's | | | | books attuned to both their educational needs and |
| a good idea to announce the arrival of a new issue | | | | their desire to connect with today's world can help |
| to your class, and even to give the students an | | | | keep their school studies relevant and keep them |
| overview of the contents of each issue. Consider | | | | connected to the educational process so important |
| checking with your school library to find books with | | | | to their futures. By providing them with reading |
| content that enhances the material in the magazines, | | | | materials that reflect their concerns, their lives, and |
| and display the magazines and books in your reading | | | | their interests, you will manage to keep that |
| center. You may find that students will get really | | | | important connection to them as they grow and |
| excited about certain issues and actually request | | | | learn; perhaps more importantly, as they see you |
| more information on specific subjects, which will give | | | | working to understand their world, they will feel more |
| you additional ideas about possible themes for future | | | | comfortable turning to you when they confront |
| study.Depending on your budget, you may be able to | | | | problems they feel unequipped to handle. Stay |
| actually poll your students at the beginning of the | | | | up-to-date on the information they're reading, stay |
| school year to discover what magazines they would | | | | relevant to their world, and you stay |
| like to see in their classroom, and order the most | | | | connected.Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer |
| popular requests. Even fashion magazines or | | | | living in southwestern New Hampshire, who has |
| automotive magazines, while not a reflection of the | | | | written numerous articles for local and regional |
| curriculum, will get your kids reading and will let you, | | | | publications. |
| the teacher, discover the interests of your students, | | | | |