The News-O-Matic Impact: Empowering Kids

News-O-Matic celebrates its 1,000th edition on Friday, August 26. In order to celebrate, a group of teachers, parents, media experts, and kids contributed essays to describe the impact of News-O-Matic in their world.

Liana Rosenman is a 5th Grade NEST teacher at PS 19 Asher Levy public school in New York City. She uses News-O-Matic daily as a literacy and global studies resource in her classroom. Here’s what she had to say.

For young children, current events can sometimes be scary or upsetting. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t discuss the news, but we should find ways to overcome feelings of despair. It is helpful to give our students ways to feel more in control of the situation by doing something about it.

News-O-Matic has been that tool and has inspired my students to become superheroes. Not the kind that can run faster than a speeding bullet with x-ray vision, of course. My students are changing the world one act of kindness at a time.

For example, my class read the article about the Syrian Civil War anniversary on March 15, 2016. Even though the Syrian struggle was overwhelming, News-O-Matic guided us to take action and see change for children affected by the 5-year conflict.

The article gave suggestions on ways to help Syria through the Students Rebuild Healing Classrooms Challenge. Inspired by this idea, my 5th grade students made and mailed in dozens of pinwheels. For each pinwheel we mailed in, the Bezos Family Foundation donated $2 to the International Rescue Committee’s Healing Classrooms program. They felt so empowered because they knew they were helping!

News-O-Matic gives my students the opportunity to give back and these are the things that can, directly or indirectly, have a ripple effect. It is changing our students, our communities, our nation and the world. It is helping to enlighten children, to broaden their experiences and worldviews, and to encourage them to do something in ways they can impact the world.

Thank you, News-O-Matic! Together we can touch the future and help children live remarkable lives!