Learning Network: Teach Great Writing One Sentence at a Time

Tell us about how you teach with The Times.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 4, 2020 Blake Bockholt teaches using a sentence published in The New York Times, in his classroom in Layton, Utah.Julie Nguyen Dear Reader, “Sentences That Matter, Mentor and Motivate”: If you’re an English teacher, that headline alone might be enough to grab you. Yet if you take a closer look at our featured post today, you’ll see there’s something in it not just for teachers, but for students, too. Jodi Ramos, a middle school teacher in Texas, and Blake Bockholt, a high school teacher in Utah, describe how they’re using New York Times sentences in their hybrid classrooms this semester; they also pose a challenge. Can your students find their own examples of specific sentence structures in The Times, then use those sentences as mentors for fresh writing? If so, we invite them to post their creations to our comments section. Blake and Jodi will be reading the results, and so will we. These teachers’ work is just the latest in our long-running column called “Great Ideas From Readers,” and we’re always looking for more. Scroll through to find ideas from across the curriculum, then consider telling us about how you teach with The Times by submitting your idea here. And it’s not just teachers we want to hear from. Students, we’d love your ideas, too. For instance, this semester we’re asking, “Do you have an idea for one of our daily writing prompts?” If you do, let us know here. Sincerely, Katherine Schulten, Editor P.S. Blake and Jodi, the authors of this week’s Reader Idea, met in our first-ever Teaching Project this summer. If you’d like to meet like-minded educators with whom you can collaborate and create, our 2021-22 Teaching Project is now accepting applications. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS Weekly News Quiz for Students Weekly News Quiz for Students: Biden Transition, Trump Pardon, Iran How well did you follow the news this past week? How many of these 10 questions can you get right? Compiled by Jeremy Engle and John Otis Film Club: ‘A Concerto Is a Conversation’ How has your life been shaped by the sacrifices, strength and wisdom of your elders? By The Learning Network PICTURE PROMPTS Cookie Collection What would the ideal box of cookies contain, in your opinion? Why? By The Learning Network PICTURE PROMPTS Snow Globe What story does this image inspire for you? By The Learning Network student opinion Should the United States Decriminalize the Possession of Drugs? Several states have voted to reform their drug laws in response to the opioid epidemic and as a way to address high rates of drug-related incarceration. What do you think of this, and other, solutions? By Nicole Daniels student opinion Do You Miss Hugs? The pandemic has made hugging friends and family outside our pod difficult. Do you agree that hugs are “good for humans”? By Michael Gonchar student opinion Do Marriage Proposals Still Have a Place in Today’s Society? When you hear stories about marriage proposals or see them on TV, is your reaction ‘How romantic!’ or do you think the tradition is outdated? By Shannon Doyne Country of the Week How Much Do You Know About Grenada? Can you find Grenada on a map? What else do you know about this island nation with a population of about 112,500 people? Compiled by John Otis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS Reader Idea Sentences That Matter, Mentor and Motivate Two teachers show how their middle and high school students work with sentence structure using New York Times models. They also pose a sentence-writing challenge for your students. By Blake Bockholt and Jodi Ramos What’s Going On in This Graph? | Dec. 9, 2020 How does the United States compare to a variety of other countries based on different measures for income and well-being? By The Learning Network current events Lesson of the Day: ‘Who Will Get the Coronavirus Vaccine First?’ In this lesson, students will learn about how the vaccine is most likely to be distributed and consider the ethics behind who should receive it first. By Nicole Daniels current events conversation What Students Are Saying About Teachers’ Politics, Memorable Scents and Text Messages Teenage comments in response to our recent writing prompts, and an invitation to join the ongoing conversation. By The Learning Network current events Lesson of the Day: ‘Teaching in the Pandemic: “This Is Not Sustainable’’’ In this lesson, students will learn what it’s like to be a teacher in 2020 America. Then they will create their own portrait of teachers based on firsthand interviews. By Jeremy Engle Lesson of the Day: ‘1.5 Million New Yorkers Can’t Afford Food. Pantries Are Their Lifeline.’ In this lesson, students will learn about the impact of hunger in New York City. Then they will research food insecurity in their communities and consider solutions. By Nicole Daniels current events Lesson of the Day: ‘The Exquisite Angst of Applying to College in a Deeply Anxious Year’ In this lesson, students will consider their own college-admissions journeys by understanding the traditional steps in the process and how this year has disrupted them. By Katherine Schulten What’s Going On in This Picture? | Nov. 30, 2020 Look closely at this image, stripped of its caption, and join the moderated conversation about what you and other students see. By The Learning Network Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. ELSEWHERE IN THE TIMES Teaching in the Pandemic: ‘This Is Not Sustainable’ Teacher burnout could erode instructional quality, stymie working parents and hinder the reopening of the economy. By Natasha Singer Why School Districts Are Bringing Back Younger Children First New York City became the highest-profile example when Mayor de Blasio said elementary schools would reopen starting Dec. 7. By Eliza Shapiro and Kate Taylor Adolescence How Teens Use Downtime to Connect, Distract or Reflect Different choices for how young people use free time lead to different kinds of relief. By Lisa Damour How are we doing? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Learning Network from The New York Times. 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