A TIERED APPROACH TO NEWSELA

• Start at the beginning if you’ve never heard of Newsela
• Scroll down to #2 if you’re familiar but want to know what else it has to offer
• CANVAS integration – use this document to sync Canvas & Newsela and read on if you want the most “bang for your buck” way to use Newsela!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A ONE-HOUR PAID TRAINING AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, take this 30-second survey here!

#1: WHAT IS NEWSELA? Newsela is an instructional tool that allows teachers to find articles with appropriate reading levels for their students. Newsela articles feature questions and writing prompts that align with common core standards. Newsela allows teachers to bring real life events into the classroom with engaging content and analytics that all students can access: ELA, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Math, Science, ELL, Current Events, Social-Emotional learning and more. It truly is an amazing tool that allows us, teachers, to give our students specifically targeted articles on just about anything (read: ANY subject can benefit!)

WATCH THIS VIDEO to see how to explore content and use the unique search capabilities.

#2: NEWSELA IS MORE THAN PDF ARTICLES: Newsela as a stand-alone…

You certainly don’t have to use Newsela and Canvas together. On its own, Newsela is packed with powerful tools to help you share current information on nearly any topic. It’s a great way to build literacy and allow your students to adjust the reading to their own specific needs. Start by enabling your district account by signing in through Clever. You’ll have access to all text sets and articles this way. You can also save content to use later. This is also where you’ll send your students to access digital news articles. WATCH THIS video to see all the Newsela features.

The PRO/CON text sets and Lesson Guides have everything you need to quickly plan a great lesson supported by age-appropriate reading levels for you students. (READ: Quick Sub Plans in a Pinch!)

#3: YOU LOVE NEWSELA, AND YOU WANT TO USE IT WITH CANVAS

START HERE: How to Sync Canvas & Newsela It’s a teeny bit lengthy process (10 minutes), but I think you’ll be pleased with how Canvas and Newsela work together to make your life easier.

WHY MERGE THE TWO?

• Newsela is available in ALL Canvas courses via the left-hand Navigation menu (if it’s not visible go to the bottom, hit Settings > Navigation and then drag Newsela to the top visible > SAVE)
• Enables users to log into Newsela from Canvas & Use Newsela within canvas
• Imports Canvas classes and class rosters into Newsela
• Streamlines assignment creation: Newsela assignments created in Canvas are automatically created in Newsela
• Streamlines grading: Grades do not pass from Newsela to Canvas; however, Newsela assignments appear as submissions and can be viewed and graded in Speedgrader.
• See your students’ analysis & synthesis right in Canvas, directly on the Newsela materials you assigned
• Assign pre-made or self-made activities for students to complete directly in Newsela: Quizzes, Writing Prompts, & More

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: How to Embed Newsela Content in Canvas Assignment

More on Newsela & Canvas FAQs

Subject Area Support Videos

Lucy Calkins Units of Study x Newsela Collaboration – If you teach ELA and use the Units of Study, this is actually a super cool training you can quickly do to see how you could integrate Newsela texts within your units.

The Newsela Support & Professional Learning section has just about everything here in super short, chewable videos. 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A ONE-HOUR PAID TRAINING AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, take this 30-second survey here!