Margin Notes

Last week, we shared the New York Times Learning Network’s new 15-minute lessons. They’re one part of a much larger collection of resources for Grades 6–12 teachers. The Learning Network has also released its 2026–27 writing curriculum.

We’ve highlighted this curriculum before, and this year’s curriculum is worth another look. It brings together writing prompts, mentor texts, guides, student examples, and optional contests.

Here’s what you’ll find in the 2026–27 lineup:

• Writing and Creating in the Age of A.I.: A new three-part introductory lesson asking students why people write and what changes when they use A.I. to help them compose.
• Everyday Practice: Student Opinion questions and Picture Prompts for short, regular writing.
• The Tiny Memoir: A personal narrative of just 100 words.
• The “Coming of Age” Project: A visual piece about growing up in 2026, accompanied by a written artist statement.
• The STEM Video: A short video built around a question and an interview with an expert.
• The Open Letter: An evidence-based argument addressed to someone who can make a change.
• The Podcast: An original audio piece on a topic and in a format students choose.
• Independent Reading and Writing: Responses to something students choose to read, watch, or listen to in The Times.

The curriculum page links to resources for each piece, including guides and examples of student work. There’s also a “Want More?” section with materials from past projects, such as cultural reviews, how-to writing, photo essays, and poetry. Teachers can spend so much time looking for resources online, so we wanted to highlight this as a great place to start.