News-O-Matic

Free!

News-O-Matic is a daily newspaper designed for elementary students. Once launched, users can browse the day’s edition for articles that interest them. When users find an article they wish to read, they must tap its headline to access it. Once an article is accessed, New-O-Matic provides users with the article’s complete text and additional tools to engage it, which are located on the bottom of the screen and include facts about the article, a slideshow of the article, a video related to the article, a read to me option, a Spanish version of the article, a highlighter tool for annotating the article’s text, and more. Additionally, News-O-Matic includes a “Games” feature that lets users interact with activities related to the news and a “News Room” feature where users can write Russ a note.

Please Note: There are a variety of News-O-Matic apps available, and each targets different grade levels. Please click here for more information.

Instructional Ideas

1. As a daily practice, teachers can have students read an article listed in the current edition. After reading the article (or listening to it read), teachers can have students use the “highlight” tool to annotate it or the “draw” tool to illustrate it. To support students with their annotations or drawings, teachers can have students highlight the main idea in one color and supporting details in another color, or teachers can have students draw the main idea of the article.
2. After reading an article, teachers can have students view the slide show that accompanies the article. As they view the images in the slide show, teachers can ask: (1) How does this image relate back to the text? (2) What is this image trying to communicate? (3) If you were going to take a picture of something to help explain the article, what would the picture be? Students can respond to these prompts orally or in writing.
3. After reading an article, teachers can have students read the “Fact” provided by the app for the article. Next, teachers can have students research another fact about the article by having students search the internet using the Phlo, All Search Engines in One, or Search22 app. Students can then write the facts they found using the Hanx Writer, Documents Free, or WPS Office app. Students can post their findings to a class website.
4. After reading an article, teachers can ask students: (1) What was the article’s main idea? (2) Were there any words that you did not know in this article? (3) Can you summarize the article in one sentence? (4) What is the most important paragraph in this article? (5) What other information do you want to know about this topic? Students can respond to these questions orally or in writing.
5. After reading an article, teachers can have students tap the “act” button and complete that action. Afterwards, teachers can have students write a short justification explaining how that action relates back to the article.

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