Learning Network: What do you appreciate about winter?

Dancing, Santa, compliments [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP4QwAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9keW5hbWljL3JlbmRlcj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9sbl8yMDIzMTIxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDk4OTQmbmw9dGhlLWxlYXJuaW5nLW5ldHdvcmsmcHJvZHVjdENvZGU9TE4mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1MjM3MSZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGNDBjOTE3ZDEtMzgwMy01NjM1LTlkMWItMjEyY2MyODUwZjM4JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZXOXRXhlXj9Uz1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0S4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Continue reading the main story](#) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0SfaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMDk5JmxpPUxOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1MTl8yMDIzMTIxMiZ0ZT0xJm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyVwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9sZWFybmluZz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9sbl8yMDIzMTIxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDk4OTQmbmw9dGhlLWxlYXJuaW5nLW5ldHdvcmsmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1MjM3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZXOXRXhlXj9Uz1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) December 12, 2023 Dear Reader, Should students have the same teacher year after year? Do you ever feel sentimental about the past? What do you appreciate about winter? Should parents tell the truth about Santa? 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 [[A sledder descends a snowy trail, with mountains in the distance. A wooden building with a snow-dusted roof is on one side of the trail.] Clara Tuma for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8xMS9sZWFybmluZy93aGF0LWRvLXlvdS1hcHByZWNpYXRlLWFib3V0LXdpbnRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Student Opinion What Do You Appreciate About Winter? Some love it; some hate it. What foods, rituals, activities and festivities help you embrace the colder months? By Natalie Proulx](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8xMS9sZWFybmluZy93aGF0LWRvLXlvdS1hcHByZWNpYXRlLWFib3V0LXdpbnRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[An illustration of children and adults dancing in a house.] María Jesús Contreras](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wOC9sZWFybmluZy9kby15b3UtbGlrZS10by1kYW5jZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Student Opinion Do You Like to Dance? Do you dance as much as you can or want to? Do you wish you did it more? By Natalie Proulx](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wOC9sZWFybmluZy9kby15b3UtbGlrZS10by1kYW5jZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[An illustration of a young child tugging on Santa Claus’s beard and inspecting it with a magnifying glass.] Yann Bastard](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjMvMTIvMDcvbGVhcm5pbmcvc2hvdWxkLXBhcmVudHMtdGVsbC1jaGlsZHJlbi10aGUtdHJ1dGgtYWJvdXQtc2FudGEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9sbl8yMDIzMTIxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDk4OTQmbmw9dGhlLWxlYXJuaW5nLW5ldHdvcmsmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1MjM3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZXOXRXhlXj9Uz1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Student Opinion Should Parents Tell Children the Truth About Santa? When does a fun, fanciful tradition risk becoming harmful deception? By Jeremy Engle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjMvMTIvMDcvbGVhcm5pbmcvc2hvdWxkLXBhcmVudHMtdGVsbC1jaGlsZHJlbi10aGUtdHJ1dGgtYWJvdXQtc2FudGEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9sbl8yMDIzMTIxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDk4OTQmbmw9dGhlLWxlYXJuaW5nLW5ldHdvcmsmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1MjM3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZXOXRXhlXj9Uz1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[An illustration of a large smartphone, bigger than a person, being lifted up by a crowd of people who are angry and arguing. On top of the phone is a teenager, looking concerned.] Andrea Settimo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNy9sZWFybmluZy9hdG9wLWEtY2VsbHBob25lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Picture Prompts Atop a Cellphone What do you think this image is communicating? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNy9sZWFybmluZy9hdG9wLWEtY2VsbHBob25lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [[A three-panel illustration. In each panel, a woman with glasses and a pencil behind her ear stands facing away; behind her is a child, who grows taller in each panel and is wearing a graduation cap in the final panel.] Katy Freeman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjMvMTIvMDYvbGVhcm5pbmcvc2hvdWxkLXN0dWRlbnRzLWhhdmUtdGhlLXNhbWUtdGVhY2hlcnMteWVhci1hZnRlci15ZWFyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Student Opinion Should Students Have the Same Teachers Year After Year? Research shows that when teachers stay with their students longer, the students benefit. Would you want to have the same teachers for multiple years? By Natalie Proulx](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjMvMTIvMDYvbGVhcm5pbmcvc2hvdWxkLXN0dWRlbnRzLWhhdmUtdGhlLXNhbWUtdGVhY2hlcnMteWVhci1hZnRlci15ZWFyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [[A woman with long, dark hair stands smiling in a bathroom where she is surrounded by objects, from the shower curtain to the soap dispenser, that pay tribute to “The Little Mermaid.”] Meron Tekie Menghistab for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNi9sZWFybmluZy9kcmVhbS1kZWNvci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Picture Prompts Dream Décor Would you want to decorate your home like your favorite book, movie or television show? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNi9sZWFybmluZy9kcmVhbS1kZWNvci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[Excited concert goers are lit up by green light coming from a stage. Two fans in the front row of a crowd are smiling, and one is holding her hands up.] Richard Perry for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy9kby15b3UtZXZlci1mZWVsLXNlbnRpbWVudGFsLWFib3V0LXRoZS1wYXN0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Student Opinion Do You Ever Feel Sentimental About the Past? Do you like looking at old photos, listening to music from your childhood or doing other things that remind you of when you were younger? By Shannon Doyne](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy9kby15b3UtZXZlci1mZWVsLXNlbnRpbWVudGFsLWFib3V0LXRoZS1wYXN0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [[Photo illustration of a blue foam finger pointer that says “#1 YOU” on it; the background is green.] Nicolás Ortega](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy9jb21wbGltZW50cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Picture Prompts Compliments Do you like giving them? What’s the best you ever received? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy9jb21wbGltZW50cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TVaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9uZXdzbGV0dGVycy90aGVsZWFybmluZ25ldHdvcms_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). VOCABULARY RESOURCES [Word of the day Word of the Day: surreptitiously This word has appeared in 67 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8xMS9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktc3VycmVwdGl0aW91c2x5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [An illustration of a student saying the word "surreptitiously."](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8xMS9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktc3VycmVwdGl0aW91c2x5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Word of the day Word of the Day: placid This word has appeared in 87 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wOC9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktcGxhY2lkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [An illustration of a teacher saying the word "placid."](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wOC9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktcGxhY2lkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Word of the day Word of the Day: epistolary This word has appeared in 27 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNy9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktZXBpc3RvbGFyeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [An illustration of a teacher saying the word "epistolary."](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNy9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktZXBpc3RvbGFyeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Word of the day Word of the Day: desalination This word has appeared in 54 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNi9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktZGVzYWxpbmF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [An illustration of a student saying the word "desalination."](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNi9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktZGVzYWxpbmF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA5ODk0Jm5sPXRoZS1sZWFybmluZy1uZXR3b3JrJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTIzNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmVzl0V4ZV4_VM9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Word of the day Word of the Day: condescension This word has appeared in 49 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktY29uZGVzY2Vuc2lvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [An illustration of a teacher saying the word "condescension."](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMi8wNS9sZWFybmluZy93b3JkLW9mLXRoZS1kYXktY29uZGVzY2Vuc2lvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU1JmVtYz1lZGl0X2xuXzIwMjMxMjEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwOTg5NCZubD10aGUtbGVhcm5pbmctbmV0d29yayZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTUyMzcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgplc5dFeGVeP1TPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnWsqXP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NjQ5MjQmbGk9TE4mbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUxOXzIwMjMxMjEyJnRlPTEmbmw9dGhlLWxlYXJuaW5nLW5ldHdvcmsmZW1jPWVkaXRfbG5fMjAyMzEyMTJXA255dEIKZXOXRXhlXj9Uz1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) How are we doing? 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