NIE, the acronym for Newspapers In Education, is the name of an educational partnership between the newspaper industry and participating school systems.

In this cooperative venture, schools use newspapers to teach a variety of subjects – history, reading, social, science, math, economics, composition, journalism and government to name a few – at ALL grade levels. The reach of NIE has expanded tremendously over the decades. When programs were first introduced in the 1930s, they were aimed mostly at secondary school students and were used to teach current events or a two-week unit called "What is the newspaper?". Today, there are programs and activities for preschool through college and beyond. Outside the school walls, NIE programs can be found in prisons, senior citizen centers, institutions for physically and mentally challenged, in college residence halls and in classes for new residents from other countries that are learning English.

Since the early 1980s, many NIE programs have included an emphasis on literacy in their communities. Most of these use the newspaper to teach adults as well as young people how to read, often in a family setting. Others concentrate on making the public aware of literacy problems or on bringing community groups together to support literacy programs.

Here at the Medicine Hat News, we offer our "Connect with Kids" program, bringing the business community into the schools through corporate sponsorship of "Class Sets" of Newspapers for teachers who request them, as well as many supplements like Christmas, Kindergarten Class and the Design an Ad Youth Showcase, to bring real life and the community into the average day
of a student, and to bring the students into the average day of the community.

As a vital part of the Medicine Hat News and its values, it is the goal of Newspapers in Education to develop, encourage and support the use of the newspaper as a teaching resource for promoting literacy and a life-long love of reading, learning and community involvement. Newspapers In Education is grounded in the belief that use of the newspaper is an essential element in the formation of citizenship.

With integrity, Newspapers in Education is devoted to providing to children, educators, and the community, a quality program that informs, involves, and inspires students and teachers.

What we offer:

Class sets of Newspapers
The Medicine Hat news offers class sets of newspapers to local area schools at a nominal education rate. Sign up and get paired up with a local business sponsor to receive your class sets "FREE" of charge.

Educational Curriculum
In addition to class sets of newspapers NIE provides educators the tools to best use the "living text book".
Ranging from handy tips and ideas for using the news to curriculum themed kits, (please refer to menu for a full list) if you need.

The Library Special
Shades of Green A Teaching resource for Environmental Education
William Shakespeare and the Contemporary World of the Newspaper
Weather Watch - Weather, Seasons, Natural Disasters
Valentine Fun 'n' Games
Using the Newspaper to Teach Secondary Language Arts
Sports Report - The integration of LA, Math & Geography in the Sports Section
Science in the News
Reading Realities - Using the Newspaper to Develop and Enhance Reading in Gr 4-12 and in Adult Literacy Training
Planet in Peril
O Canada eh? - Quebec Votes (Dated Material)
Choices and Challenges Canada Votes 2000 (Dated Material)
Winter Olympics (2000 and 2002) Dated Material
Provincial Election
The Newspaper and Adult Literacy - Using the Newspaper to Improve Literacy Skills
Effective Decision Making - A Survival Skill for Today's World
Family Matters - The Continuing Value of Family, No Matter What Type You Come From
On Ice - Using the News to Teach through a love of Hockey
Alberta - One Heart Many Clors - Ethnic Diversity
Express Yourself - Bringing Drama to the Div ll & lll LA and Social Studies Classroom
Active Reading/Active Writing
People and Parliment - the Process by Which Canada is Governed
Partners in Learning - Newspapers in the Library Resource Ctr
Science Fairs: The Method Behind the Madness
The Joy of Christmas
Just for the Health of It! - the Facilitation of Life Skills Development
Positive Thinking - Valuing Oneself in Adolescence
Newspapers in the Classroom Gr 5-8
NIE Teacher's Guide - Primary
It's NIE for K-3
Aggie Days - Agriculture in Alberta
Give Earth a Chance - A NIE Environmental Program for Students
Language for Living - Develop Written and Oral Competency Through Life Skills
NIE Study Guide for John Steinbeck's: Of Mice and Men
Our Living Community - Community Studies Through the Daily Newspaper

NIE Institute Website (See NIE Coordinator for password)
In addition to these on site resources, at NIE we have access to literally any form of Curriculum you may require to best use your classroom sets of Newspapers. Should you require and assistance in finding material, please do not hesitate to call NIE. Our job is to help you bring the Living Textbook to life through whatever venue, to promote and improve literacy skills.