Implementation Guide & Tips

Get the most
out of Newsela

Success begins with a solid implementation plan. Here are some of our favorite learnings from schools and districts that have successfully used Newsela to improve learning outcomes.

You'll learn how to:

Create connections between Newsela and your curriculum
Set routines and expectations for using Newsela
Empower lead teachers to become Newsela advocates

How To:

Create connections between Newsela and your curriculum

Carondelet Catholic School

Grades K-8 Minneapolis, Minnesota

With access to Chromebooks, MacBooks, and iPads, teachers at Carondelet Catholic School designed their own digital curriculum that aligned to Minnesota State Standards and best fit their students’ needs. Teachers worked together to link Newsela articles and Text Sets directly into their scope and sequence documents.

Key Takeaways

  1. Share with colleagues Have teachers share the Newsela assignments they create for their classrooms with other teachers.

  2. Plan ahead Build Text Sets and draft potential exemplar assignments for your teachers, specific to your school’s curriculum and scope and sequence.

  3. Make an agenda item Allow time for teachers to connect and share best practices or favorite Newsela assignments during staff meetings or PLCs.

How To:

Set routines and expectations for using Newsela

McKinley Institute of Technology

Grades 6-8 Redwood City, California

With a large population of English Language Learners (~60% ELL), McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT) needed to supplement core class time with additional literacy support. In order to make sure students were reading on Newsela, MIT’s principal sets aside time with new teachers to create a Newsela assignment together and shares Newsela with parents to increase its use at home. During MIT’s daily “Literacy Period,” students are additionally required to complete at least 6 Newsela quizzes a month with a passing score.

Key takeaways

  1. Set expectations When rolling out Newsela, create a communications plan sharing how and when teachers should use Newsela.

  2. Make an agenda item Allow time for teachers to connect and share best practices or favorite Newsela assignments during staff meetings or PLCs.

  3. Spread the word Share Newsela with families to build community support and create stronger at-home connections.

How To:

Empower lead teachers to become Newsela advocates

Marie V. Duffy Elementary

Grades PRE K-5 Wharton, New Jersey

With up-to-date content at five reading levels, Newsela was a great fit for Marie V. Duffy Elementary’s population of transient students and students who were reading below grade level. Grade level and content area teachers regularly meet and share Newsela assignments to save time. As a result, Newsela has become an essential tool across multiple content areas because teachers co-plan together.

Key Takeaways

  1. Create leadership opportunities Empower a teacher to become a Newsela Certified Educator or Newsela Teacher Trainer to learn and share deeper applications of Newsela with their colleagues.

  2. On-demand professional learning Point teachers towards the Educator Center, where there are tons of resources, videos, on-demand webinars to help them get more comfortable using Newsela.

  3. Create routines Encourage teachers to share their best practices for using Newsela in their classroom with each other.

Hear from these educators and leaders who have implemented Newsela

Virginia

“We have a specific way in how we roll Newsela out. When there is a specific way everyone is doing the same thing, it makes for a better experience for the student. When they walk into any given classroom, we are doing it pretty much the same way, so they know what to expect.“

Kristen

“If I am tying in articles that relate to our curriculum, then I assign. If we are using Newsela to focus on reading skills, then I let students choose independently.”

Martina

“Being the district contact for Newsela has allowed me to see all of the different ways that Newsela is being used in various classrooms across the district. A major impact that comes to mind is the conversations that Newsela fosters.”

Robert

“I design my units around Newsela in order to avoid very boring and outdated textbooks.”

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