Scholastic Kid Reporter Andrew Liang, live from the DNC!

In the U.S., if you’re at all tuned in to the media, politics is unavoidable. Last week the Republicans took over Tampa for their national convention, which Kristen reported on here, and this week attention is tuned in to Charlotte, where the Democratic Convention is in full swing. As someone who loves politics and current events, I’ve been glued to Twitter and television to participate in my own way. And for those of you with kids, these weeks — and the upcoming election — offer you a powerful chance to talk about the political process and our government…because there’s nothing cooler than learning about history while you’re living it!

Scholastic is uniquely positioned to educate kids about the election thanks to our amazing Kid Reporter program. Officially known as the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps (though we call them our Kid Reporters or even just KRs!), they’re a group of about 50 kids from across the nation who report on news of interest to kids just like them. And they are serious journalists — getting top-notch interviews, writing news stories geared towards their kid audience, and just generally charming everyone they meet!

If you’re looking to talk to your kids or students about the election, here’s what you need to know:

• Right now, veteran KR Andrew Liang is in Charlotte, and you can find all of his news stories right on scholastic.com/election.
• The Kids Press Corps has been live tweeting both conventions, which is a great, brief way to get a feel for what they’re experiencing. Follow them at @KidsPress!
• We’ve also created a new Pinterest Board all about the 2012 Election! Find videos, activities, and more for kids. Plus, there’s our Kids Press Corps Board, which shows even more of the great reporting our KRs get to do all year round.
• The crux of the political process is, of course, the right to vote! Our Scholastic Student Vote is now open, and kids can cast their ballot for the next President of the United States. (Fun fact:
• And, in other exciting news, applications for the next round of Kid Reporters is now open! To find out how to apply, head over to the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps Blog.

And, check out Andrew’s report straight from the floor of the DNC!

Have you and your families or students been watching the conventions? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.