Introducing... "Front Page News" Articles
Our weekly round-up of current news has been so popular that we've increased the frequency of publication to twice a week, every week.
Every non-fiction text we publish is timely and relevant but our Front Page News articles - previously known as Rockerbox Picks - offer a quick round-up of current news headlines, accessible at our 6 Rockerbox reading levels.
This non-fiction format has been so popular that we've increased the frequency of publication to twice a week, every week. We're also including our Jade reading level (with Widgit symbols to support text) in one Front Page News article each week.
What's great about Front Page News?
- Front Page News is our twice-weekly round-up of current news headlines. It's always neutral in nature and written at our 6 reading levels. Front Page News comes with related questions to check understanding and stimulate discussions, and can be read aloud or translated using our handy translation toolbar.
- If you're new to Rockerbox News, assigning Front Page News articles is a great place to start as they take the same format every week and are published on a Tuesday and Friday.
How does it work?
| Publishing Day | Number of top headlines featured per reading level | |||||
| Jade | Copper | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Diamond | |
| Every Tuesday | N/A | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Every Friday | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Why not use our Front Page News article for home reading?
- Our Front Page News articles keep the same format each week so they make a perfect weekend home reading activity.
- Assign the two Front Page News articles of the week to your pupils to read over the weekend. Ask them to answer the related questions and discuss the topics with their family. All of the stories should be things that families will read about wherever they access their own news.
- Step 1: Log in to your teacher account
- Step 2: Check that you've personalised each pupil's reading level. If not, follow these quick instructions.
- Step 3: Click 'Send Stories to Class'
- Step 4: Click 'Select All' and then 'Next'
- Step 5: Search for 'Front Page News' and click to select the articles from that week. Click 'Next'.
- Step 6: Copy and paste the following activity title and description or write your own. Pupils can read, listen to, or translate these instructions using their toolbar.
Title: Non-Fiction Reading and Topics to Discuss: DATE
Description: Please read the two texts below and answer all of the related questions over the weekend. Ask your family the final question to learn more about what's happening in the news this week. - Step 7: Press 'Schedule Task'
- When you come back to school on a Monday, discuss what you've read and learned over the weekend. What did your pupils like learning about most? Use your Rockerbox News reporting dashboard to view each pupil's identified strengths and areas of need. Review the topics together as a class or in small groups to consolidate learning and stimulate discussion.
- When planning your assemblies, consider focusing on one of the headlines from the previous week. Ask a group of pupils to complete further research so they can present what they've learned to the rest of the school.