The living textbook
NiE - making class lessons authentic, fun and relevant.
OFTENTIMES, there is a disconnect between classroom learning and the real world. Students do not see the relevance of learning a skill or trait much less, its purpose. When students see beyond this scope is when learning becomes purposeful.
The Newspaper-in-Education (NiE) pullout by The Star has long been bridging the gap between class lessons and real-life issues way before the inculcation of 21st century learning in today’s classroom.
Imagine if a student could use a text that is updated daily. The Star newspaper, in combination with its 12-page NiE pullout, is wellpositioned to bring authentic resource to Malaysian classrooms.
Published every Wednesday, the colourful pullout is written by a team of experienced English language teachers and specialists, and is packed with engaging hands-on NiE activities for the classroom.
The NiE activities are divided into elementary, intermediate and advanced levels to suit students’ English language proficiency.
Students are given a comprehensive and structured learning framework that focuses on three major segments – NiE English, NiE Literature and NiE Life.
Best of all, the pullouts are endorsed by the Education Ministry and follows topics in the national syllabus. Don’t be worried about being left behind when it comes to current teaching trends. The latest buzzwords in education – Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), creative thinking and cooperative learning – are no strangers to NiE.
The NiE pullout even includes key indicators that show the various types of 21st century skills utilised in a particular activity.
Teachers can expect to go beyond the textbook with stimulating questions that challenge students to think.
The pullout has a much-loved comic strip panel that illustrates stories in the school literature component. This year, it will illustrate the novel The Elephant Man. Vibrant graphics are designed to capture the imagination of young minds, while a mini dictionary box comes in handy for tackling difficult words.
With 33 issues per year, the pullout also includes two sections – BRATs and Earn Your Band 6.
On pages 5, 6, 7 and 8, students will be able to read articles written by their peers in The Star’s BRATs young journalist programme.
This four-page section is dedicated to all things that make teens tick, which include current affairs, pop culture and short stories. It is designed for teens with a passion for writing and an instinct for journalism. Teachers too get a corner where they can share inspiring stories.
BRATs can be found in 24 issues of the NiE pullouts. Once a month,
Earn Your Band 6 will take its place with nine issues.
Earn Your Band 6 is aimed at improving the English proficiency of those taking the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
Students will have access to tips and activities designed by teachers and specialist writers to hone students’ reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
MUET candidates also stand a chance to have their essays published, and win cash prizes.
The much-loved annual NiE contest will be back with an exciting concept, too. Do look out for it!
Teachers, are you ready to inject fun into your English lessons? If so, get a copy of your 2018 planner when the school subscribes to The Star’s NiE programme. The planner will help you incorporate NiE lessons into your lesson plans.
For more information, call The Star’s Customer Care Unit at 1-30088-7827 from Monday to Friday (9am-5pm), or get in touch with the marketing representative closest to you (from Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 7.30pm).
Subscription is through schools only.