Weekly Reader is going digital! Starting this fall, teachers who subscribe to the grade 1 or grade 2 edition will have access to a new digital edition of the magazine, in addition to the familiar paper copies. That means teachers can display the issue on a computer screen or electronic whiteboard or use a projector to display it on a regular whiteboard.

The digital edition isn’t just an electronic copy of the magazine. Instead it has lots of added features, including embedded audio and video, slide shows, definitions of terms, and a feature that allows you to zoom in and enlarge the page. Plus with this version you can complete the activities multiple times with your students.

We asked Ira Wolfman, Senior Vice President for Editorial at Weekly Reader, to share more about the exciting developments at Weekly Reader.

How does the digital edition change the way teachers use Weekly Reader in their classrooms?

There’s one obvious change: The digital edition injects additional power and energy into Weekly Reader lessons because our publication is now wired for multisensory learning—and learners. These editions bring age-appropriate short films, sound effects, slide shows, and online interactivity right into the classroom. Weekly Reader kids now not only read grade-specific information about the power of hurricanes—they also hear howling winds, see trees bending, and watch teeming rain soak streets and people. The Weekly Reader digital edition contains tools that make teachers’ lives easier. Instructors can preview the issue’s vocabulary and access prereading questions with the flick of their fingers. They’ll be better able to focus students’ attention with our simple online tools—such as the zoom feature that can blow up one detail, or the masking capability that enables them to isolate a particular word, image, or activity. And we’re confident that the interactive content will engage children who are primarily auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. The digital editions are very new, but we have already heard from more than 100 educators who have used them. One teacher told us, “This is an easy way to imbed technology into reading lessons, while offering differentiation to a variety of learners.”

Which of the new features is your favorite?
It’s hard to pick because there are so many neat ones. But I’d have to say that the short video clips are the coolest of all because they combine sound, motion, and a real “you are there” feel to the issues in a way that static material just can’t. Our managing editor Linda Ruggieri agrees; she picked the hurricane video in our first digital edition issue as her favorite: “It brings sound and movement to children who live in parts of the country that don’t get hurricanes, or who have never seen a hurricane. It gives students an authentic experience.”

What kinds of equipment or technical knowledge do teachers need to use these new features?
The great news about our digital editions is that no technical knowledge is required. The only equipment any Weekly Reader grade 1 or 2 subscriber needs is a computer and an Internet connection. If the class has a projector and screen, or an interactive whiteboard, it will be an even more exciting group experience. But we’ve built these editions to be extremely easy to use, and teachers who have sampled a digital edition—without any instructions on its features—not only used it without difficulty, but loved it.

At this point do you know if other levels will include digital editions in the future?

Right now, we are focused on getting our digital editions right for first- and second-grade classes, and for the special-education teachers interested in it. We are certainly interested in expanding to more grades, but we will have to see what the market tells us. Digital editions are one of many improvements we’ve made to Weekly Reader publications over the past few years: We’ve paid a lot of attention to the changing needs of today’s teachers and students—so we’ve expanded our digital offerings, used many more visuals in our print publications, and added a deeper curriculum base to all of our products. We think these are important pieces of the future of educational publishing, and we’re excited to be on the cutting edge.

Can’t wait to see a sample of the Weekly Reader digital issue? Click here! Enjoy!

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Summer, glorious summer. Not only is this a time of relaxation, but it’s also a great time to get ahead for next year. With that in mind, here’s a preview of a few offers and freebies that will be featured in the Learning® magazine Back-to-School issue. There’s no need to wait; you can check these out now—at a leisurely, summer-style pace, that is!

Since 1987, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation has awarded more than a half-million dollars in grants to public schools for creative children’s programs. Minigrants up to $500 have been given for bookmaking, pen-pal projects, art projects, and more. The deadline is September 15, 2009. Click here for more information!

Inspire children to make healthy choices with the free games, science activities, lesson plans, worksheets, and more at www.LearntobeHealthy.org.

Healthy Sprouts Awards assist schools in planting gardens to teach about nutrition and hunger. At least 15 children ages 3-18 must participate. Awards include gift certificates for gardening materials, seeds, nutrition lessons, and more. Applications are due October 17, 2009. Find details at www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp.

People up to age 25 are eligible for Do Something Grants of $500. The grants are to be used to start or continue sustainable community action projects. Recent projects include distributing joke books to hospital patients and holding bike rides to encourage alternatives to driving. Grants are awarded weekly. Apply at www.dosomething.org/grants.

Step on over to the puzzle center! You can make and play different kinds of puzzles, including crosswords, word scrambles, anagrams, and secret codes. It’s all free at www.apte.com.

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