Learning Network: Should grades be based on excellence or effort?

Wildfires, youth sports, healthy eating

View in browser|nytimes.com January 14, 2025 Dear Reader, What's your reaction to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area? Are youth sports too stressful to be fun anymore? Should grades be based on excellence or effort? Have you ever had a friendship breakup? What is your dream travel destination? These are just a few of the questions we posed recently in our writing prompts. We'd love to read your students' answers. Sincerely, The Learning Network WRITING PROMPTS Stacy Revere/Getty Images Student Opinion Are Youth Sports Too Stressful to Be Fun Anymore? The N.B.A. superstar Luka Doncic wants to make youth basketball joyful again. How do you think that could be done for organized sports? By Jeremy Engle Philip Cheung for The New York Times Picture Prompts Southern California Wildfires What's your reaction to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area? By The Learning Network Shannon Lin/The New York Times Student Opinion Should Grades Be Based on Excellence or Effort? A guest essayist writes that too many students today wrongly expect to be rewarded for their efforts rather than the quality of their work. Do you agree? By Jeremy Engle Sonia Pulido Student Opinion Have You Ever Had a Friendship Breakup? Tell us about what you learned from the experience. By Shannon Doyne Maria Hergueta Picture Prompts Healthy Eating Habits How healthy is your diet? What can you do in 2025 to improve it? By The Learning Network Student Opinion What Can You Recommend? If you were to make a list of the music, movies, TV, books, video games, fashion, tech or restaurants others should know about — or avoid — what would you put on it? By Katherine Schulten The New York Times Student Opinion What Is Your Dream Travel Destination? This year's "52 Places to Go" list suggests plenty of spots around the world to consider. By Jeremy Engle Oyow Picture Prompts Your 2025 Most-Anticipated List What are you looking forward to this year? By The Learning Network LESSON PLANS AND TEACHING IDEAS Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Resource List Teaching and Learning About Martin Luther King Jr. With The New York Times How do you celebrate and teach the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., both on the holiday that celebrates his birth, and all year long? By The Learning Network Todd Owyoung/NBC, via Getty Images Conversations With Journalists Let's Discuss: Music Playlists From The Amplifier What makes a great playlist? Pop music critic Lindsay Zoladz joins us to discuss. Post your comments and questions for her here by Jan. 16. By The Learning Network Meridith Kohut for The New York Times Contests How to Create a Compelling Collection: A Guide to Our New 'My List' Contest Step-by-step instructions for coming up with an engaging list of recommendations for things we should — or shouldn't — read, watch, experience, eat or listen to. By Katherine Schulten Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. VOCABULARY RESOURCES Word of the day Word of the Day: acerbic This word has appeared in 73 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: cacophony This word has appeared in 107 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: boutonniere This word has appeared in four articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: actuarial This word has appeared in 13 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: febrile This word has appeared in 26 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. 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. To stop receiving The Learning Network, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018