Welcome to our NIE website, packed with fresh, quality content for teachers, students and parents. Take a moment to explore what's new this week then tour the site for more exciting learning tools and projects.

TEACHERS MUST RE-REGISTER FOR THE 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR
 If you haven't yet registered for the new school year, click above or on the yellow bar on the right where it says Sign up here for access.

Enter all information requested, then select the newspaper you want your students to access and you will receive a user name and password to share with your class.

■Free Workshops at your school: Earn continuing education credits. For information or to schedule a session, contact us at mlyons@starledger.com or 973-392-5841.

In addition to the online content we'll be providing here every week, you can also access a wealth of free educational resources available through our membership in the national NIE Institute. Get more info and a list of topics here.

The Star-Ledger
wins Pulitzer Prize

The Star-Ledger's Amy Ellis Nutt was awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for "The Wreck of the Lady Mary." Nutt and videographer/graphic artist Andre Malok spent months investigating the sinking of a scallop boat based off Cape May that left six dead and spared just one crew member.

The five-chapter series ran as a 20-page special section in November 2010; it was accompanied by a 24-minute documentary produced by Malok. You can read the complete story and see the video at www.nj.com/ladymary

What is NIE?

News in Education is a nationwide program started in 1966, under which newspapers act as a supplement to the usual textbooks and teaching materials.

The Star-Ledger and The Times News in Education programs provide teachers with innovative and versatile teaching resources linked to the information, people and events making news today. Students and teachers alike discover a wealth of new ideas that make learning interesting and fun while reinforcing reading and writing proficiency, as well as science, math and other vital academic and life skills. News in Education offers a variety of materials and curriculums to support the classroom experience.

Our Mission:

The Star-Ledger and The Times, through the News in Education (NIE) program, are dedicated to the promotion of literacy in accordance with New Jersey state-mandated education standards. NIE fosters a learning environment that serves to inform, involve and inspire students in the development of positive study skills in a variety of subject areas with the added goal of assuring good citizenship.

News in Education provides: Free digital delivery of the newspaper for classroom use, Free supplemental teaching guides & curriculum and Free Teacher training and workshops, many for continuing education credits.

NIE helps advance education for students in several ways:

  • Develops research skills
  • Applies academic study to practical experiences
  • Helps build student comprehension of local, national and international issues
  • Builds self-esteem through positive classroom experiences
  • Encourages class participation
  • Offers timely learning materials at little or no cost

Learning to Give is a national organization that is headquartered and started here in Newark, NJ. The curriculum is dedicated to giving kids a sense of responsibility and accountability in their communities.

►Check out this resource

Online Extras (Updated every Monday)

NIE Special Report


In celebration of Black History Month, we complied a selection of videos from NBC Learn's 'Finishing the Dream' to use as an aid to teach the struggles and celebrate the triumphs of the Civil Rights movement over the span of 60 years. 'Finishing the Dream' is a project by NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

►Read More!


►Argentina angry over Prince William's posting to the Falklands

Answer FIVE Geography questions each week based on major news events.

►Archive of Geography quizzes

'Not concerned with very poor' quote could fuel anti-Romney ads

►Discussion prompts & video archive.

NIE Institute Educational Resources

As an NIE subscriber, you can access a wealth of free educational resources available through our membership in the national NIE Institute. All are appropriate for classroom instruction when used with the electronic or print edition of The Star-Ledger.

►Visit our NIE Institute page for these topics:

Art
Careers
Character Education
Critical Thinking Skills & Gifted
Diversity & Multicultural Literacy
Elementary & Middle School
ESL & Spanish Bilingual - Black & Hispanic Heritage
Financial Literacy Supplements
First Amendment
General Educational Development
Health, Nutrition, Fitness
Homeland Security, Crime, & Online Safety
Journalism & Press Freedom

Language Arts & Literacy
Life Skills
Math, Science, Tech & Environment
Media Literacy
Multi-Curricular & Miscellaneous
Multiple Intelligences
NIE Instructional Calendar
NIE Miscellaneous
Safety & Anti-Drug & Alcohol Awareness
Social Studies, Govt., Civics
Sports
Study Skills & College Prep
Women's Studies
cftclogo.gif

Download a lesson based on political cartoons and print it out for use in your classroom. (PDF format)

This week's lesson: When it gets close, politics gets rough

►Download this week's lesson
►There are more than 180 lessons archived for your use


Tap the wealth of information in your newspaper as a teaching tool:

►Elementary (K-4)
►Middle (5-8)
►Secondary (9-12)

►User survey confirms Facebook's appeal as it nears big milepost: first stock sale

-- Front Page Talking Points Archive


Diversity, multiculturalism, worldwide events. You'll find plenty for classroom discussions in this listing of events.

►Get This Week in History


This week's word in the news: COUNTERVAILING

DEFINITION:
Acting against with equal force. Exerting force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The announcement came after the Government Accountability Board faced countervailing pressures from those who urged that the petitions be made readily available and from those who raised concerns about the safety of domestic abuse victims who wanted to keep their addresses confidential.
►Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- 02/06/2012