Scholastic Magazines+ can also be particularly valuable for students with special needs. In one study, 92% of special education teachers reported that they found magazines valuable because they motivated their students to read (Morrow & Lesnick, 2001). Additionally, some striving readers are more likely to read magazine content that can be read in a single sitting, thus making it a rewarding exercise (Gabriel et al., 2012b). In classrooms that are culturally and linguistically diverse, magazines serve as an accessible entry point to literacy. In addition to providing articles that are inclusive of students’ diverse interests and strengths, Scholastic Magazines+ is written with an eye toward students with various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Scholastic News ® and Let’s Find Out ® offer digital versions of their magazines in Spanish, and titles such as Junior Scholastic ® and Scope ® profile real young people from diverse backgrounds. Stories about children in other countries, teens with disabilities, and young immigrants offer culturally sensitive perspectives and serve as resources for “multicultural lesson planning in inclusive classrooms and…provide teachers with information that will increase their knowledge of diverse groups” (Jairrels, Brazil, & Patton, 1999, p. 303). With more than 30 titles in circulation, teachers have a variety of options when choosing a Scholastic magazine that resonates with their classroom instructional goals, and students have access to diverse content that will resonate with them regardless of their reading level or cultural or linguistic background. ENCOURAGING HOME-SCHOOL AND PEER INTERACTIONS Students who are motivated to read and who enjoy reading are more likely to engage in literacy activities. This is true for students both inside and outside of the classroom; therefore, providing opportunities to read for enjoyment is one way to enhance classroom literacy experiences (Morrow & Young, 1997). Home-school connections and peer-to-peer interactions around literacy are two ways to foster reading motivation and an appreciation for reading, and magazines are a powerful medium for establishing these positive reading experiences.
Research shows that magazines provide a valuable link between home and school; they have something for everyone, for all interests and reading abilities. Parents can enjoy their children’s magazines, which can offer common ground and serve as a starting point for thoughtful discussion on various topics. In addition, “when students have the opportunity to learn from magazines in the classroom, they gain skills and confidence. Many children are then eager to share what they have learned with their family” (Morrow & Young, 1997, p. 738).
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