Teaching and Learning with the New York Times features questions about issues in the news for students thirteen and older.  Not only are these questions great prompts for your blog posts, but your blog posts are also welcome to be submitted to the NYTimes to be published there as answers to the questions!  The newspaper asks that you omit your last name when replying, just as we do here.

When you click on the link above, you will find a daily student opinion prompt, but check out the sidebar as well.  There are many interesting links that will also give you ideas for your writing:  photo prompts, poetry pairings, teens in the news, word games, student contests, and features such as “On This Day in History.”  More thought-provoking questions for writing can be found in the student opinion archive here.

NPR has had many submissions of belief statements from people under the age of 18.  You can read them (and listen to them!) on the NPR website .  Why not write one of your own, post it to your blog, and submit it to National Public Radio for publication?

 National Geographic‘s Photo of the Day feature is a wonderful place to look for inspiration.  That page also has links to photos collected by theme, month, and year.  Remember that if you use one a National Geographic photo in your post, you must cite your source!  Easybib can help.

 

From the The Daily Post at WordPress.com:

Opposite

When the full moon happens, you turn into a person who’s the opposite of who you normally are. Describe this new you.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us NIGHTTIME.

 

Never Again

Have you ever gone to a new place or tried a new experience and thought to yourself, “I’m never doing that again!” Tell us about it.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us NEVER.

 

Yawn

What bores you?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us DULL.

 

Pants on Fire

What was the last lie you told? Why did you tell it?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us FAKE.

 

Favorite Shoes

Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us WALK.

 

Addicting

Have you ever been addicted to anything, or worried that you were? Have you ever spent too much time and effort on something that was a distraction from your real goals? Tell us about it.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us ADDICTING

 

Home Sweet Home

When you’re away from home, what person, thing, or place do you miss the most?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us HOME.

 

Regret

Explain your biggest regret — as though to a small child.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us CHILDLIKE.

 

Fright

Do you like being scared by books, films, and surprises? Describe the sensation of being scared, and why you love it — or don’t.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us FRIGHTENING.

 

Unplugged

Sometimes, we all need a break from these little glowing boxes. How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us UNPLUGGED.

 

Exhale

 

Tell us about a time when everything seemed to be going wrong — and then, suddenly, you knew it would be alright. 

Photographers, artists, poets: show us SAFETY.

 

Practice Makes Perfect
Tell us about a talent you’d love to have… but don’t.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us TALENT.

No Fair
Tell us about something you think is terribly unfair — and explain how you would rectify it.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us FAIR.

The Cat Says Meow
Write a story about yourself from the perspective of an object, thing, animal, or another person.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us PERSPECTIVE.

Sorry, I’m Busy
Tell us about a time when you should have helped someone… but didn’t.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us DENIAL.

Toy Story
What was your favorite plaything as a child? Do you see any connection between your life now, and your favorite childhood toy?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us MEMENTO.

The Excitement Never Ends

Tell us about the last thing you got excited about — butterflies-in-the-stomach, giggling, can’t-wait excited. 

Photographers, artists, poets: show us EXCITEMENT.

Luxurious
What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us LUXURY.

Regrets, I’ve Had a Few
What’s your biggest regret? How would your life have been different if you’d made another decision?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us TURNING POINT.

Name That…You!
Do you know the meaning of your name, and why your parents chose it? Do you think it suits you?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us IDENTITY.