Learning Network: What’s your favorite Times piece you’ve taught with or learned from?

August 14, 2026

Good morning! The New York Times turns 175 in September, and we want to know: What’s your favorite piece you’ve taught with or learned from? Whether it’s old or new, or an article, essay, photo, video, podcast, graph or illustration, we’d love to hear what’s been most useful to you. — The Learning Network

What Times pieces have you taught with over and over?

A black-and-white archival image of students seated at desks in a classroom. A partial quote appears above reads: “I began by pointing out an interesting article and discussing it with the class ... I read the article while they followed in their newspapers.”

An image from “Vitalizing the Curriculum With The New York Times,” a 1952 pamphlet given to schools. Sonny Figueroa/The New York Times

The Learning Network has helped people teach and learn with the paper since 1998, and, over the years, we’ve collected elaborate curriculum ideas from all kinds of educators.

But to celebrate the 175th anniversary, we have something simpler in mind. We’re hoping to crowdsource a collection of favorite individual Times pieces that people have taught and learned with. These should be pieces that are memorable to you because of what they showed you when you were a student, or because of how effective they have been in your own classroom as a teacher.

Anyone of any age is welcome to respond to our survey, and you can reply as an educator or as a student — or both, if you’re eligible!

Here is the form, and thank you in advance.

This week’s Summer Reading Contest winners

An illustration of two people at a nature lookout. The Wordle number of the day is centered in the illustration.

One of our winning videos this week concerned this very challenging edition of Wordle. Janet Mac

Though we can’t embed them in this newsletter, we encourage you to take a look at the three winning videos from this week:

First, Sam Jindal, 18, from Orange County, Calif., takes us through his attempt to solve the July 15 edition of Wordle.
Next, Foss Goodwin, 18, from Utah, investigates a claim covered in “How Utahns Took on Mr. Wonderful and a Data Center on the Great Salt Lake” — and suggests we all do similar research.
Finally, Jozef Jemy, 15, an Indian student who currently lives in Dubai, shares his creative reaction to “India’s Young Protesters Take Aim at Modi With Creative Signs.”

Recent Times reporting about schools

College students type on laptop computers.

More American college students are taking online classes. Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images

As colleges and students embrace virtual classes, the ease of A.I. cheating is raising questions about the value of an online degree.
After two Cornell University students skinned a black bear in a communal kitchen last year to make a meal, the school changed the rules.
New York City student reading scores dropped six points, erasing previous gains despite a revamped literacy program.
A violent clash between a Texas school police officer and a student highlights the risks of policing in schools.

We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. More next week.

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