Dr. Brian McLaughlin spent a long time as a teacher before he went back to school himself. He taught history, math and science in Borneo in grades 7-9 while he was a Peace Corps volunteer and has held many other teaching positions all the way from nursery school through college. He now directs a PBS effort to reach out to teachers through the news. It’s not a new idea. When I was in sixth grade I remember great class social studies discussions led by my teacher. He was excited about world affairs and communicated the important idea that we could learn by sharing our authentic ideas about what was happening in our world with each other. He taught me that even sixth-graders could have opinions and make a difference. Brian McLaughlin hopes to convince students of that idea by providing teachers with information and tools to do just that on a much larger scale.

On a recent visit to PBS NewsHour headquarters on the outskirts of Washington D.C. I was treated to a look at the unassuming “place where the NewsHour happens”—a bunker-like complex under an overpass. In the adjacent News Hour office complex interns and staff are hard at work researching, writing and editing news stories that many regard as the best in-depth news coverage available. I was there to consult with McLaughlin and staff about ways that NSDL could share information and resources with the newly-launched PBS NewsHour Extra Teacher Resources—“Unique current events resources for busy teachers: news stories for a tenth-grade reading level, pictures, maps, video, in-depth lesson plans, stories written by students and more!”

Online PBS NewsHour Extra Teacher Resources

McLaughlin’s inaugural Teacher Center blog post suggests that “teaching with news” will be the focus of a network of like-minded educators.

Online PBS NewsHour Extra Teacher Center

As the PBS NewsHour Teacher Center gets underway there are a few issues on McLaughlin’s mind. How will these resources be cataloged so that teachers can “grok” the meaning of the information as it relates to classroom activities, alignment to standards, the reality of trying to connect busy teachers to a “teaching with news” network, and engaging them in an ongoing conversation to find out more about what would make a difference.

For more information about how to get involved contact Brian McLaughlin at teachercenter@newshour.org.