Building Critical Thinkers Through World Awareness
Students must constantly navigate complex social, cultural, and political landscapes in today’s interconnected world. The key to evolving this skill is growing students’ world awareness and helping them connect their personal experiences with the broader global community. Through exposure to ELA news and informational texts about current events, students:
- Understand themselves better
- Gain essential critical thinking skills
- Build empathy and social awareness
- Enhance their ability to engage with the world
The Juice advances social emotional skills like self-awareness and social awareness with non-partisan, leveled informational texts that approach a broad range of global topics with openness and curiosity (traits all SEL lessons hope to embed in students).
The platform provides opportunities to read current events for the United States and other countries while building stronger reading comprehension skills. As educators, integrating SEL (Social Emotional Learning) into these informational text lessons across the curriculum can make a significant difference in how students perceive themselves and their place in the world.
Understanding SEL Through the CASEL Framework
Social emotional learning (SEL) involves more than understanding and managing emotions; it also encompasses developing empathy, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
The CASEL framework, a widely recognized model for SEL, outlines five core competencies:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision-Making.
Each of these competencies is fundamental to both personal growth and academic success.
The Juice supports SEL by encouraging students to engage with informational texts and analyze real-world issues through a critical lens. The ELA news articles from The Juice advance an international view of the world by writing daily current events for the United States and beyond. Let’s explore how teaching empathy in schools, critical thinking, and building reading comprehension through The Juice aligns with the CASEL framework.
Building Self-Awareness and Self-Management
Self-awareness is recognizing one’s emotions, thoughts, and values. Students reading ELA news articles in The Juice encounter various topics, from climate change to social movements, offering opportunities to reflect on their beliefs and values.
For example, an article on the effects of climate change might prompt students to think about how their lifestyle impacts the environment. This reflection helps students build self-awareness and critical thinking skills as they learn to connect global issues with their own lives.
One hallmark of self-awareness is understanding that we are imperfect and must cultivate a growth mindset. The Juice platform supports developing this mindset with built-in tools like constructive feedback on questions that motivate students to keep trying.
Self-Management goes hand in hand with self-awareness. Reading ELA news articles in The Juice encourages students to set goals, such as improving reading comprehension lessons or staying informed about current events kids news. Students practice essential skills such as organization and self-discipline by tracking their progress and managing their time. For instance, reading daily news from The Juice promotes time management while developing reading comprehension.
Fostering Social Awareness and Relationship Skills
One of the most significant aspects of The Juice is its ability to foster social awareness. Informational texts on current events expose students to diverse cultures, perspectives, and global challenges. Whether reading about political changes in another country, current events for the United States, or understanding the struggles of a marginalized group, students are placed in others’ shoes, which is critical for teaching empathy to kids.
One crucial component of the CASEL framework for social awareness is understanding the influence organizations and systems have on our behavior. Daily ELA news articles help students holistically digest these complex systems by learning about a variety of systems, including:
- Governmental
- Economic
- Geographic
- Sociological
- Cultural
- Ecological
Reflection questions tied to informational texts allow students to consider the implications of these systems and their effects on themselves and the greater community.
An example is when students read a story about refugees fleeing conflict. By learning about the social, political, and economic realities displaced people face, students develop empathy and understanding of the interconnectedness of these systems. These stories encourage discussions in the classroom about human rights, fairness, and compassion, helping students practice relationship skills by engaging in meaningful conversations with their peers.
Developing Responsible Decision-Making Through Critical Thinking
Reading informational texts and teaching current events for the United States and abroad also play a pivotal role in helping students make responsible decisions. When exposed to ELA news articles, students learn to evaluate information critically, weigh evidence, identify bias, and form informed opinions.
Reading informational texts teaches them to make thoughtful and responsible decisions based on facts and evidence. This skill is crucial in both their academic and personal lives.
For example, an informational article about the effects of social media on mental health might lead students to evaluate their online behaviors and consider changes to improve their well-being. By fostering critical thinking and responsible decision-making, The Juice helps students grow into thoughtful, informed citizens who can positively contribute to their communities.
Practical Implementation: Bringing The Juice into the Classroom
To implement The Juice effectively in the classroom, teachers can develop reading comprehension lessons that use its articles to explore current events.
- Assign informational articles about different populations around the world. Then, facilitate group discussions that focus on empathizing with those groups.
- Divide students into groups and assign articles relating to different systems. Have students discuss how they contribute to those systems.
- Incorporate SEL by connecting articles to examining school prejudices and biases. By selecting stories that highlight diverse experiences, teachers can create opportunities for students to relate to others’ perspectives and practice analyzing their own and others’ biases.
The Power of World Awareness
Teachers support the development of well-rounded, empathetic, and critical thinkers by exposing students to informational texts such as current events and ELA news articles.
Understanding world events helps students contextualize their experiences, fostering a deeper connection to their community and the broader world. Whether through discussions, group activities, or personal reflections, The Juice empowers students to engage with the world around them in meaningful and informed ways.
Combining SEL and reading informational texts builds academic skills and prepares students to be compassionate, responsible citizens ready to contribute positively to society.
