THE MINI PAGE USED IN SHCOOLROOM AS INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL

Excitement and anticipation fills the eyes of Becky Peters' 1st grade class at the Jackson Primary Annex when she begins to pass out The Mini Page that is inserted in each Tuesday's edition of the Southeast Missourian.

As the 4-page, easily recognized, yellow-paper publication makes its way down the rows of desks, the room fills with "oohhs" and "ahhs" and children pointing out sections of the paper to one another.

"They like it because it's what big people do," said Peters of her 23 students. "Most of them don't read, but they get something out of it. We look for words with the beginning and ending sounds we're studying."

This is the second year Peters has been using multiple copies of The Mini Page and the Southeast Missourian as an instructional tool in her 1st grade class. Before taking advantage of multiple copies of The Mini Page and the newspaper, Peters was teaching in Dexter where multiple copies weren't available without paying the newsstand price for each copy -- a little too expensive from week to week for a large class.

During her five years at Dexter though, Peters would have her own copy of The Mini Page laminated and would let children handle the laminated pages to read and write on them. "By laminating the pages, I could wipe the markings off," she said.

This is the 25th anniversary of The Mini Page and the woman who has remained as editor for its duration, Betty Debnam. Debnam is also the creator of the children's newspaper.

The Mini Page, distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, is inserted in more than 550 newspapers around the country. It is a supplement aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12. However, children younger and older also find interest in the publication. The Mini Page is for children, but Universal Press said it is of interest to all readers.

Each issue revolves around a theme that is illustrated with a cover story, jokes, puzzles, recipes and mini-interviews. "Literacy is what The Mini Page is all about," said Universal Press.

And thanks to the Newspaper In Education programs, Universal Press said multiple copies of The Mini Page are a valuable resource in classrooms, around the country. The Mini Page also fosters family reading and enjoyment.

"It's better than their reading books, at least by the kids' standards," Peters said. "When we finish with The Mini Page and they can work on whatever they want, many of them continue to look at it and work at the games and puzzles."

In addition to promoting literacy, The Mini Page also serves as an introduction to the newspaper for children. Debnam was interested in developing The Mini Page for this reason because her father, grandmother and grandfather were newspaper editors. Also, Debnam possesses a master's degree in education and taught elementary school for 12 years.

This fall, the book-publishing arm of Universal Press, Andrews and McMeel, will release a series of resource books based on The Mini Page. Topics in the resource books will be similar to topics addressed in The Mini Page, including the workings of government, health and safety and the environment.