And Now For Some GOOD News ...

10 August 2011
The other day, a friend of mine posted a link about the importance of sharing good news stories.  The link reported the results of a study that confirmed people were inspired to do good when they read media stories about Good Samaritans' selfless acts.  You can read about the article here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/03/29/bc-good-news-study.html

Inspired by this, I set out to find "good news" sites on the internet that I could share with my students:
Happy News:  http://www.happynews.com/index.aspx
Good News Stories (might be better suited for older students): http://goodnewsstories.org/
UpBeat News Stories: http://upbeat.net/
Optimist World:  http://optimistworld.com/
Dogonews:  http://www.dogonews.com/

I do current events activities with my students all the time.  This year I am going to focus on positive current events - sharing some GOOD news.  This could be done in many ways:

  • One student per day could research and then present a good news story.  
  • Good news stories could be used for guided reading groups - identifying the main idea and moral of the article, and practicing oral fluency.
  • Good news articles could be used while studying the features of a news article.
  • Good news articles could be used to practice summary writing.
  • Good news articles could be used for shared reading activities.
  • A good news story could be shared over the projector or overhead for students to read as they come into the class.
  • Good news stories could also be posted over the projector or overhead during lunch or indoor recesses - students will read it.
  • Students could write their own good news stories about events going on in their school or community.

I have created a printable to go along with this idea, and uploaded it to google docs.  You may print your own copy by clicking here or on the picture.



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15 comments

  1. Mrs. CorbittAugust 10, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I really love this idea! I think that it is important for our students to know about current events. Thank you for finding the list of websites that we can use with our students to put a more positive spin on the news and the freebie coordinating sheet. :) Nicole

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  2. Abby BatlleAugust 10, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    i absolutely love this idea. i play the cnn news for kids video clip each morning and love discussion on real news events. this GOOD NEWS idea is so gooooood!!

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  3. TracieAugust 10, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Thank you for sharing this Jen. It gives me goosebumps to know that my little idea can potentially reach thousands of young minds through your followers!!!

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  4. Jennifer GibsonAugust 10, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Love this! Thanks!

    I have been trying to think of a special way to acknowledge the 10th Anniversary of September 11th in my classroom. This might just do the trick!

    Thanks for spreading the happiness! :)

    Jennifer
    http://www.kleinspiration.com/2011/08/guest-post-how-to-turn-passive.html?showComment=1313007321580#c6881184491353792945

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  5. Jennifer GibsonAugust 10, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Sorry. That was supposed to be my link to my blog. I guess I should look more closely before posting!

    Lifelong Learning

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  6. BethAugust 10, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Great! I might try to use this as part of my Grade 4 Regions unit...hmmm, interesting.
    Beth

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  7. AnonymousAugust 10, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    I'm so excited with this post! I've been trying to wrap my head around how to change up my daily news and this is just the twist it needed. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Ann MarieAugust 11, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    I LOVE dogonews!! It has off the wall stories to capture your most reluctant readers!!!

    ❃ Ann Marie
    ABCs and 123s 4 me

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  9. BarbaraAugust 11, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    Yay - I love it! Giving kids these elevating experiences will increase their empathy!! Keep up the 'heart' work.

    Barbara

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  10. LoriAugust 12, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    great idea!!!

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  11. SandyAugust 12, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Great idea! I plan on having a current efents BB this year and this idea will help me to take it up a notch. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Jennifer K.August 15, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    I love this idea! I am subscribed to http://www.heroicstories.com/
    Every week it sends out a true story of people helping other people. It is inspirational and FREE! I love reading stories of every day acts of kindness, some of which seem inconsequential but are a huge deal to the recipient. It's not necessarily current events, but it is always good news!

    Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten

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  13. Margaret WhisnantAugust 21, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Jen, Thanks so much for the time and research that went into this important blog. I'm so glad Laura Candler featured it in her newsleter. Otherwise, I would have missed the chance to share the "good news" on my blog. Take a look: http://takinggrades.blogspot.com/ I also intend to post links on my Facebook page before the end of the day.

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  14. Tracee OrmanAugust 28, 2011 at 2:25 AM

    I always love looking at the positive, too! :) I know this free download is geared for the novel Mockingjay, but it can be adapted for a project after they gather their good news, perhaps. Here it is: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mockingjay-Hunger-Games-Acts-of-Goodness-Challenge

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  15. UnknownOctober 1, 2012 at 12:46 PM

    Thank you for sharing! We watch the news often, and sometimes it can be VERY depressing :-/ Thank you for thinking ahead to some positive things to make our students enjoy current events!

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