Teaching Kids How to Spot Misinformation
Testimonials
"I liked learning about how to tell if information is clickbait or real. I also really liked the scripts and rhymes and even the two extra-credit home work assignments. I wouldn’t change anything about the class. It’s already perfect."
Eli Platt, 4th Grade, Roads to Success After School Program, P.S. 516
“It was fun and educational. I really enjoyed it. In the future, I’ll be able to spot a fake website and figure out whether news is true or false. I can’t wait to go back. I liked the activities we did. It was great.”
Olive, 4th Grade, P.S. 38
"I liked this class because I learned how to find misinformation online. I think that is useful because there is a lot of misinformation online. I also learned that one way to check if a magazine is fact-checked is to look at the masthead and see if they have a research chief or research editor."
Will, 4th Grade, Roads to Success After School Program, P.S. 516
"I really liked how we got to do all the skits. It was also really interesting to do all the activities related to social media and checking the fake social media posts. I really liked this class and it was a fun new thing to have during the school day."
6th Grader, The Garden School
"I liked the class. I enjoyed learning about how to see if the post is fact-checked. There wasn't anything I didn't like and there is nothing to improve!"
6th Grader, The Garden School
"I liked that we got to act and perform little skits. It helped me learn how to figure out what was factual and false."
6th Grader, The Garden School
"I liked how you exposed us to a meaning understanding of fact-checking. I don't think you need to improve anything, but thought it would be fun to have a homework assignment where we write an article and see if classmates can determine if it's built on hard facts or unsubstantiated claims!"
6th Grader, The Garden School
"It was fun and delightful to learn about fact-checking news articles. I was misguided and had a hard time figuring out how to fact-check in the beginning but got the hang of it at the end. I liked talking about shows and celebrities, too. It was joyful. It improved the way I look at text on social media."
6th Grader, The Garden School
"I participated in a day of training that Steph led for librarians working with young children that focused on how we can engage these children with concepts like fact checking, media literacy, and misinformation. To say I enjoyed this training would be an understatement. Steph was both charismatic and highly knowledgeable — I learned a ton during the training. The concepts that we were presented with led to interesting and thought-provoking discussions between the participants as peers. This was absolutely one of the best professional training opportunities I've had during my career as a librarian and one that will continue to inform my professional practice for years to come."
Jessica Maldoff
Senior Librarian
New York Public Library
Yorkville Branch
“We learned stuff about how to see if something is not an unsubstantiated claim getting announced as a fact, or how to check other resources if something doesn't seem right. One thing we would do that was fun was reading a script like the steps to [fact-checking] something. For example, there would be different characters called triangulation, hard fact, primary and secondary source. We also had a few quizzes. One was [reading] a paragraph where we would have to figure out if it’s [based on] unsubstantiated claims or hard facts. The quizzes are extremely fun. We also got prizes motivating us to participate. Overall, it was an amazing class.”
William, 5th Grade, Roads to Success After School After School, P.S. 516
“This class was very fun because we learned every aspect of fact-checking in a fun and easy way where we could all participate. At the beginning of class, we would usually do a quiz, and after we could compare our answers. In the middle of class, we would do something hands-on, for example, we would act out different characters in a script called “Fact-checking’s Cast of Characters,” who do different things in the fact-checking process. I learned a lot doing that. At the end of class, our teacher would give us work for extra credit; if we did the work, we would sometimes get candy. I also thought the fact-checking class was an amazing class because we got to meet real people who fact-check all the time. I had a lot of fun in the class and I learned a lot about fact-checking with our teacher.”
Lorenzo, 4th Grade, Roads to Success After School Program, P.S. 516
"My experience in the School of Hard Facts was really fun and interesting because we learned how to identify fake articles using real articles....I just want to say that if this class was in my classroom I think that it might teach kids how to protect themselves online. I really learned a lot and it was really fun. I think maybe it was almost perfect. When I was in the class it was in Steph's house, but I met a lot of new friends. The School of Hard Facts should be taught in my school. Who knows?"
Viviana, 4th grade, Brooklyn New School
"The class helped me understand what was real on YouTube and the games were fun!! Everyone who uses social media should take the class."
Devon, 5th grade, Brooklyn New School
"My little girl took the School of Hard Facts class and it was awesome. My daughter loved the class and wanted to take more. She keeps asking when the next one is coming up. Steph is all- around awesome. She is very engaging, knowledgeable and she was able to motivate her students to learn, while nurturing their curiosity of journalism. Now if there was an adult class...hint hint."
Cleon, Father of Averie, 4th Grade,
P.S. 38
"This is the funnest class I've ever been in, I would rate it 5 out of 5."
Averie, 4th Grade, P.S. 38
"Truly, having the School of Hard Facts work with my students was an invaluable experience! I'd like to share some feedback from other teachers that were present during the sessions. Overall, we were beyond pleased and so excited to know that the students will move into the future being able to sort fact from fiction.
The set up of activities, flow and use of props was so helpful for reaching the many different types of learners we have. Steph was able to differentiate her instruction to really get to the point — that not everything they read is based on fact. She taught them how to triangulate and make better judgments about what they read in print and online.
The students learned how to better navigate the internet and filter out false information. The information was presented in such an engaging way by using shows, books, and artists that are familiar to the students.
In sum, I know my students will move onto middle school with a newfound ability to be better citizens who fact check and spot and stop the spread of misinformation. I am so grateful to the School of Hard Facts and Steph for giving my students this powerful tool as they move into their futures."
Emily, Elementary School Teacher, P.S. 172
"Steph Fairyington's School of Hard Facts is an essential workshop in today's media and information environment. A student's ability to critically evaluate information has never been more challenging or more important. Fairyington's School of Hard Facts builds a strong foundational understanding of the methods in which information is collected, disseminated, and presented so students can see through the distractions and misinformation in their search to better understand the world around them. After this workshop participants will be able to navigate this difficult environment with confidence and develop vital skills that they can rely on throughout their personal, academic, and professional lives."
Douglas Varney
Senior Librarian
New York Public Library
St. George Branch
"I loved the School of Hard Facts program and the fact that it was adapted for a younger audience was great! Since young children rely on social media so much, it is a good idea to teach media literacy to them early. Also, the activities Steph created were a lot of fun and educational at the same time."
Carmen Penas-Barrio
Children's Librarian
New York Public Library
Morris Park Branch
"This class gave great examples of how information can be taken out of context, both online and otherwise. Steph showed us relevant examples that could be understood by kids and teens, but also gave us a deeper understanding of misinformation in the internet age. Plus the skits and activities were fun!"
Jenny Reisman
Children's Librarian
New York Public Library
Inwood Branch
"It’s hard even for grownups to detect misinformation in today’s media. But Stephanie Fariyington’s School of Hard Facts training helps students and educators alike tackle those challenges to become informed researchers and consumers of information using a fun and interactive format. It’s great that the training includes a look at social media since so many of us use it for news updates. I learned a lot in the training and have found that the checklists and activities we did helped me to retain the information."
Rachel Sweany
Senior Children's Librarian
New York Public Library
Main Branch