How to Teach News Literacy in Your Homeschool
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In a world where news travels faster than ever, how can we ensure our kids are not just informed…but informed correctly?
As homeschooling parents, we have the incredible opportunity to teach our children how to navigate the flood of information that comes their way daily.
From sensational headlines to biased reporting, the news can be a confusing landscape for our kids. But with a little guidance, we can equip them with the tools they need to sift through the noise and find the truth.
Ready to turn your homeschool into a hub of savvy news consumers? Let’s dive into the essentials of teaching news literacy at home!
What is News Literacy?
So, what do I mean by “news literacy”?
News literacy is the ability to critically evaluate news and information from various sources. It involves things like:
📰 understanding how news is produced
📰 recognizing bias and misinformation
📰 being able to distinguish between credible and unreliable info
Now, how we access news has definitely changed over the years.
When I was a kid, I remember my dad being all about the news each day. We got a newspaper delivered to our house (I would always steal the comic section), he listened to news shows on the radio, and when he got home from work, I knew the TV was off-limits because it was time for his favorite news show.
It’s very different these days, and how we access news tends to be different in many ways.
For example, most of the news I read is online through websites or social media, or through podcasts or newsletters. Which means that maybe my interest in the news and what’s going on in the world isn’t as apparent to MY kids as it was to me as a kid and seeing my dad engage with news media.
So I want to be intentional about teaching my kids how to not only be good news consumers, but in giving them skills related to news literacy.
Because with all the information out there these days, it’s crucial for our kids to learn how to sift through it and find what’s true and trustworthy.
They are bombarded with information from countless sources, and not all of it is reliable. Without critical thinking and news literacy skills, it’s so easy to default to bias and believe misinformation without a second thought.
The good news, though, is that as homeschoolers, we have a unique opportunity to teach our kids these essential skills. We can integrate it into our everyday lessons. We can take the time we want to to explore current events and discuss multiple perspectives, we can teach our kids about bias and logical fallacies, how to think critically and independently.
I don’t know about you, but I want my kids to be thoughtful, informed citizens who can hold their own in this information overload world we live in right now.
How to Teach News Literacy to Our Kids
Now, I am FAR from an expert on news literacy, but—as you guys know—that’s one of the beautiful things about homeschooling, that we get to learn alongside our kids.
We don’t have to be immediate experts in order to teach our kids something.
So that being said, I wanted to share just a couple of practical tips and resources you might be able to use to help you teach news literacy at home.
Start with the Basics
Begin by introducing your kids to the different types of media they’ll encounter—newspapers, TV news, online news sites, social media, and blogs.
Explain how each type of media works and its intended purpose. It’s crucial for kids to understand the differences between news, opinion pieces, and entertainment. This foundational knowledge will help them discern the intent behind the information they consume.
Next, teach your kids to assess the credibility of news sources. Show them how to look for bylines, citations, and the reputation of the publication. Discuss why some sources might be more reliable than others and what red flags to watch out for (such as sensational headlines or a lack of verifiable information).
Common Sense Media has a TON of resources that will help you teach your kids about news and media literacy.
One of them is Checkology, which is a free, comprehensive curriculum you can check out if you’re looking for something like that, but they also have a variety of links broken down by specific topics (like journalism, journalism ethics, resources for teaching how to spot mis- and dis-information, etc.).
They’ve done a great job of rounding all of this up in one place, so you’ll want to bookmark the link above and kind of pick and choose the things YOU want to focus on in your homeschool.
Analyze Headlines and Stories
A great way to practice news literacy is to analyze headlines and stories together.
Choose a current news story and have your kids compare how different outlets write the headlines. Discuss how word choice can influence perception and why different media might frame the same event in various ways.
For a deeper dive, pick a major news event and compare how it’s reported by different news organizations. Discuss any differences in coverage and explore the reasons behind them, such as political bias or target audience. This activity will help your kids understand that news is often presented through a particular lens.
Watch News Together
One of the ways that we’re being intentional about sharing news with our kids (and actually getting them excited about tuning in and learning what’s going on in the world!) is by watching World Watch News in our homeschool.
World Watch News is a 10-minute segment each day that is produced by Christian journalists and covers current headlines along with all sorts of other topics and subjects.
I love that it’s a way ALL of my kids can watch the news, be informed about current events and things going on around the world, but without any of the things you might have in a regular news show that might not be appropriate for younger kids.
Encourage Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is essential for news literacy. Introduce your kids to fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, or PolitiFact, and practice using these tools to verify claims made in news articles or social media posts. This will help your children develop the habit of questioning information and seeking out the truth.
Teach your kids to recognize bias by comparing news stories from different political perspectives. Did you know that there are a LOT of different types of biases?
The book Beware Your Bias, from the author who brings you the Tuttle Twins, is a fantastic resource for teaching your kids about bias and critical thinking (all of their other books and resources are great, too—go check them out!).
Diversify News Sources
Encourage your kids to get their news from a variety of sources, maybe even including international outlets, to gain a broader perspective on global events.
Creating a weekly news roundup as a family can be a fun way to discuss different news stories and emphasize the importance of a well-rounded news diet.
Engage in Hands-On Projects
Make news literacy interactive by involving your kids in hands-on projects.
Creating a family newsletter is a great way for them to practice gathering, verifying, and presenting information. They can report on events happening in your community or family, which will give them a sense of ownership over the news they produce.
Another idea is to host a family debate on a current event. Assign roles, with each person representing a different news outlet’s perspective, and discuss how different biases can influence the narrative. This activity will help your kids understand the importance of considering multiple viewpoints.
Explore Media Literacy Resources
Incorporate media literacy games and quizzes into your homeschool routine. Websites like Newsela or Common Sense Media offer interactive tools that make learning about news literacy fun and engaging.
Additionally, books like “The Fallacy Detective” can help your kids recognize logical fallacies and strengthen their critical thinking skills.
Engage with News Professionals
If possible, connect with a local journalist who can explain the process of news reporting. This could be done through a virtual meeting or an in-person visit.
Visiting a local newsroom can also provide valuable insight into how news is gathered and produced.
Discuss the Impact of News
Finally, take the time to discuss the impact of news and misinformation with your kids.
Use real-life examples to illustrate why seeking the truth is important and how misinformation can spread.
Teaching your kids about the role of social media in news dissemination and how to discern credible information from fake news will further equip them to be savvy consumers of information.
Enjoy Teaching News Literacy to Your Kids
I hope you can take some of these ideas and incorporate them into your homeschool if this is something you’re interested in working on with your kids!
By incorporating any of these activities into your homeschool routine, you can help your kids develop strong news literacy skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Leave a comment below and let me know: what are your tips for teaching your kids news and media literacy these days? I want to hear them!
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