The effect of the weekly reader on children's knowledge of current events

Analyses of data drawn from 2.331 urban and suburban elementary students ag es 8 to 12 in Chicago, Houston, Boston. and San Francisco suggest that chil dren who have higher reading levels and greater exposure to current events through communication media (television, newspapers, newsmagazines, discuss ions) have more knowledge and greater understanding of current events withi n classrooms, as measured by a 29-item current events knowledge test. Child ren in lower elementary classrooms (Grades 2 and 3) with the Weekly Reader periodical present appeared to have higher levels of current events knowled ge, even after controlling for key classroom variables. The effect of the W eekly Reader is less for children in upper elementary classrooms (Grades 4 through 6) because they tend to receive more current events information fro m other communication materials.