Still, as popular as audiobooks have become, I suspect there will remain some consternation about their rise, especially from book lovers who worry that audio is somehow eclipsing the ancient sanctity of text and print.
But that is a myopic view. Telling stories, after all, is an even older form of human entertainment than reading and writing stories. Banish any guilt you might harbor about listening instead of reading. Audiobooks are not to be feared; they do not portend the death of literature on the altar of modern convenience. Their popularity is a sign, rather, of the endurance of stories and of storytelling.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word banish in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how banish can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
Have you ever dreamed of spending the night in the Weasleys’ home from “Harry Potter,” Betty’s house from “Riverdale” or SpongeBob’s pineapple under the sea? If you could spend the night in any home from your favorite movie, show or book, where would you stay?
In the past few years, Airbnb, the home-sharing platform, has offered some unique and intriguing places to stay on vacation, like a Barbie mansion and a Wienermobile. The company’s latest marketing campaign includes offers to stay in Carrie’s apartment from “Sex and the City” and the McCallister house from “Home Alone.”
Have you seen the “Home Alone” movies? Would you want to stay in the McCallister family home?
What fictional house would you want to stay in? Describe the house. Why would you enjoy staying there?
Airbnb has created these experiences to “make headlines and create a buzz on social media,” according to the article. What do you think of this marketing campaign? Is it a good idea?
Write your own ad, like this one, to advertise the fictional house you chose. Make sure to include photos and a short description that includes the price, amenities and any special activities you would offer.
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
At-home coronavirus tests have become a way for people to quickly know their Covid status before socializing or going to school or work. However, these tests rely on conducting complex steps and interpreting visual cues that often make them inaccessible to people who have limited vision or are blind.
In this lesson, you will learn about some low- and high-tech developments that could make at-home Covid testing more accessible. Then, you will reflect on other ways to make testing for the coronavirus more accessible for all people.
Warm-Up
Have you ever taken an at-home Covid test? Have you been tested at school or at a health care facility? What experience do you have with coronavirus testing?
Consider the role that vision — the ability to see — plays in being able to safely and accurately test for Covid-19 during the pandemic. How is sight important or necessary as part of the testing process?
1. What are some of the obstacles that have prevented Christy Smith from ever being tested for the coronavirus?
2. What are low- and high-tech workarounds that might help people who are blind or who have limited vision get tested for the coronavirus? Discuss at least three ideas mentioned in the article.
3. For each workaround, describe a possible challenge to putting it in effect.
4. How does testing inaccessibility affect the quality of life for people who cannot go out for a Covid test or cannot use one at home?
5. Of all of the testing options and adjustments suggested in the article, which do you think sounds the most compelling? Why?
Going Further
What is your reaction to the featured article? Are you surprised by the issues raised in the article? Do you feel hopeful about any of the solutions explored? Why or why not?
Can you think of any additional ideas that might be able to make testing more accessible for people who have limited vision or are blind?
Then consider the ways that testing for the coronavirus can be challenging or inaccessible for different people, whether they have a disability of not. You can consider a range of issues, including transportation, affordability, language and availability. Brainstorm some possible solutions that might make testing more accessible.
Additional Teaching and Learning Opportunities
Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.
Does the thought of writing a cover letter fill you with dread? You Are Not Alone. It can take several hours — or even days, if you’re waiting to hear back from a trusted friend with their edits — to write a good cover letter. And, even with all the time and energy you put into writing and editing, it can still be a mystery as to whether or not your cover letter will actually be read by the hiring manager.
The good news? A catchy cover letter can help you stand out as recruiters sift through applications. The better news? If you need help getting started, we’ve outlined what to put in your Full-Stack Developer cover letter and how to better your chances of landing your application in the “yes” pile.
But first: Do you need a cover letter?
You might be wondering if you actually need a cover letter since some companies don’t require you to submit one in the first place. And while it might seem like opting out of the hassle of writing a cover letter is a good idea, consider this: It’s down to your application and one other one to move forward in the interview process. Both of the resumes are essentially the same, but your competition submitted an optional cover letter, and you didn’t.
They used their cover letter to talk about the details that make them an especially good candidate for the job, as well as additional accomplishments and experiences that weren’t on their resume. This means your competition got to show the hiring manager more reasons why they should get the job, and they also showed they’re willing to go the extra mile, even when it’s not required — something that employers appreciate from their staff. In the end, your competition landed the interview for your dream role.
All this to say: If you really want the job, we recommend that you submit a cover letter — even if it’s optional.
How to write a Full-Stack Developer cover letter
Cover letters, like resumes, have a standard format that typically goes like this:
Heading
Greeting
Introductory paragraph
Body paragraphs
Closing sentence/paragraph
Closing signature
Here’s what to include in these sections:
Heading
At the top of the page, you’ll want your full name in large print and your contact information, including your email address and phone number. You can also include a link to your LinkedIn profile or your portfolio here if you want.
Greeting
Next, you’ll want a greeting. Some job descriptions tell you exactly who to address your cover letter to, but some don’t. For the ones that don’t, you can try to find the hiring manager’s name either on the company website or LinkedIn. But don’t worry if you can’t find it — using “Dear Hiring Manager” is fine.
One thing to note is that you might come across cover letter examples that have a header section between the heading and the greeting that includes the date, the applicant’s name and address, and the name and address of the recipient. This was standard when applications were sent via snail mail, but 99% of applications are sent digitally now, so you can skip this section.
Introductory paragraph
Your first paragraph is short and straightforward. It should let the hiring manager know who you are and the position you’re applying for. Don’t overthink this part. Something along the lines of “I’m excited to apply for your Full-Stack Developer position.” or “I’m interested in your Full-Stack Developer position because…” works. You’ll have your chance to be creative in the following paragraphs.
Body paragraphs
In the next two or three paragraphs, you need to discuss why you’d be the best developer for the job. A common mistake that many people make in this section is they just summarize their work history. Don’t do that!
Take the opportunity to talk about what you’ll bring to the job in a different way than your resume does, and include specific results when possible. Maybe you increased code efficiency by over 50% on your last project, which is a detail that should be on your resume, but what you didn’t put on your resume is that you’re the one who everyone turns to when they have questions about code efficiency or a particularly challenging problem related to code efficiency to solve. Talk about this here.
Maybe you were asked to help evolve the front-end and back-end stack because you’re skilled in understanding business objectives, or maybe you’re regularly sought out to build out the pipeline schedule because you have a knack for knowing the cadence that suits your team. It might be helpful to pick out one or two of your soft skills, and then expand on them in these paragraphs.
Another detail you’ll want to address in this section, if it’s relevant to you, is if there’s something on your resume that could be perceived as a red flag. For example, if you have an employment gap and you’re just now re-entering the workforce after a long break, or maybe you don’t have any experience in development but you completed online courses and you’re searching for your first development job.
Closing sentence/paragraph
You can either write a couple sentences that sum up your letter and show your enthusiasm for the position, or end with a simple, “Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.” Again, don’t overthink this section.
Full-Stack Developer Cover Letter Example
Here’s what a Full-Stack Developer Cover Letter could look like.
I’m excited to apply for the Full-Stack Developer position at Reddit, Inc. My experience with both the back-end and front-end stacks, as well as my proficiency in Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery, would be a great contribution to your team and company.
Over the past six years, I’ve worked at Acme Technologies. I started as a Junior Full-Stack Developer, and I was promoted to Full-Stack Developer after a year and a half with the company. In addition to my technical skills, one of my strengths is discussing complex topics with technical and non-technical audiences. This led me to taking over the responsibility of presenting quarterly updates to senior management and the executive team, which began in an office setting and later transitioned to a fully-remote environment.
My ability to thrive in ambiguity is another benefit I can bring to your team. At Acme, I participated in client meetings where we held open discussions about our client’s challenges, problems, and needs. After taking part in several of these discussions, I developed a framework to structure these meetings around that has been used for over two years now. The feedback from the team on the new meeting format was, “Why didn’t we do this sooner?!”
I’m committed to improving the organizations I belong to, and my goal is to use my skills and background to support Reddit’s innovative projects.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Jennifer Williams
Other Full-Stack Developer cover letter tips
Length
Keep it to one page. There’s no reason for your cover letter to be longer than a page, and even if it is, the hiring manager is unlikely to read the whole thing. Also, the hiring manager is going to quickly scan your cover letter, so you want to keep the paragraphs short — two, three, or four sentences per paragraph is good.
Tone
In terms of the tone, you want to show some personality in your cover letter — it should sound like you — while also keeping it professional. One trick is to imagine you’re writing to a co-worker or a professor and use a conversational tone. Once you finish your first draft, try reading it out loud. Does it sound like you’re talking to a colleague or is it too stiff? If it’s stiff, just say out loud what you’re trying to convey and then try to put that on paper.
Tailor each cover letter to the job
You’ve heard this before, but it’s worth mentioning again — a good cover letter should be specific to the job. If you’re applying to several roles that are similar, you absolutely can reuse whole paragraphs, but just be sure to tweak any text that can be personalized.
Edit!
Editing is the last thing you want to do after spending a chunk of time writing the first draft of your cover letter. We get it. But you don’t want to miss out on an interview over a typo or other error, and remember: There’s going to be a lot of competition, so what sets one application apart could come down to typos. If you have a friend or family member who is good at proofreading and editing, just ask them to give your letter a read. They’ll likely be happy to help and excited for you to land your next role.
Follow the application instructions
Something that’s relatively new in job postings is a callout to the applicants with a little detail to include somewhere in your application. This might be something like, “At the end of your cover letter tell us who created C.” or “Include the name of your favorite front-end tool in the file name of your application.”
The instruction is given somewhere in the job post, and it’s basically a test to see whether or not you actually read the job description. It weeds out anyone who’s just submitting applications in bulk (something hiring managers hate).
What’s next?
The best-case scenario is that your cover letter lands you an invitation to interview for the job. Take a few minutes to celebrate, and then it’s time to start preparing for the interview, which will include both technical and behavioral interview questions.
Since Full-Stack Developers are expected to have a wide range of skills since they cover web applications from start to finish, you can expect a lengthy interview process. You’ll be asked technical questions and you’ll be expected to solve coding problems on the spot.
It’s no secret that the tech industry offers competitive wages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary in the U.S. is around $51,428 a year, but many developers and engineers make at least 40% more. Some even bring in more than double the U.S. average.
In some cases, even if you work remotely, you can still bring in an impressive salary as a tech professional, often in the six figures. Below, we’ll explore some of the most lucrative careers in tech. Then, we’ll show you how to get started.
1. Developers: $107,510
Developers in the U.S. earn $107,510 a year, bringing in the dough as they bring in solutions. A developer has to have the ability to understand the ins and outs of building software solutions, but that’s just the beginning.
They also need to work with everyone from executives to programmers to end-users and many others in-between. Developers take the wants and needs of execs and use digital solutions to make them happen.
2. Back-End Engineers: $115,933
A Back-End Engineer’s job, in many ways, forms the anchor of the rest of the development process, which may be one of the reasons they rake in $115,933 a year. The challenges Back-End Engineers face involve figuring out which resources, technologies, and hardware will do the best job of supporting an efficient, flexible software solution.
As a Back-End Engineer, you’re responsible for creating the foundation of an app that can grow and adapt to the needs of a business. You may also be called in to add or adjust elements of existing solutions to better fit the needs of end-users.
3. Front-End Engineers: $104,450
A Front-End Engineer earns $104,450 by creating solutions that enable end-users to have an attractive, effective experience while using apps. They use user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles and tools to ensure the apps they create and support are successful.
As a Front-End Engineer, you’ll also need to update existing apps to feature the latest and greatest tools, bells, and whistles that users like. This requires staying up-to-date on the cutting edge of the most recent coding techniques, tools, and libraries.
4. Cybersecurity Engineers: $93,931
Even though the average pay for Cybersecurity Engineers falls under that of Developers and Front- and Back-End Engineers, many make more than the median pay of $93,931. This is because their jobs can include creating a variety of solutions to protect highly valuable digital assets, and many companies are more than willing to shell out big cash for their services.
As a Cybersecurity Engineer, you strategically choose, source, and manage cybersecurity solutions such as:
You may also work with Network Engineers and the IT team to create both functional and secure systems.
4. Database Administrators: $93,750
Database Admins play a vital role, earning every bit of their average of $93,750 a year. They’re in charge of organizing, updating, managing, and dispensing the data that helps businesses perform their best.
In the age of big data, Database Admins play a particularly crucial role, forming a bridge between companies and the data they need to improve their systems and make data-supported strategic decisions.
5. Computer Programmers: $86,500
Even though Computer Programmers make significantly less than the other roles on this list (on average), their yearly $86,500 is nothing to sneeze at. In some cases, your job as a Computer Programmer may be slightly more linear than that of a developer. The focus is on choosing the best hardware and updating and maintaining it.
For some companies, this may boil down to four or five different workstation solutions and networking components that can be purchased for multiple locations. Plus, Computer Programmers may also have to adjust the programming of hardware components to ensure they perform exactly how a company needs them to.
A skilled Computer Programmer can design solutions that save an organization time and money as they choose and design long-lasting, scalable solutions.
6. Data Analysts: $67,294
The average salary for Data Analysts in the U.S. is over 30% over the national average at $67,294 a year. Still, many earn more due to the sheer mass of data they process and analyze.
A Data Analyst studies the data produced by an organization and looks for trends the company can use to improve its systems or discover new opportunities. As a Data Analyst, you may work closely with Database Administrators, along with executives who use your analytical skills to make decisions that power the organization’s success.
Preparing for a career in tech
As you can see, regardless of role, tech professionals are paid well for their valuable skills and expertise. And, if you’re ready to start your career, we’ll show you how.
As we explain in our breakdown of the journey to a career in tech, the first step involves building your skills with the programming languages and tools you’ll use on the job. To get started, check out our catalog of programming courses. Or, you could jump into a Career Path.
Career Paths are designed to prepare you for an entry-level position in your desired field. As you learn how to code in various languages, you’ll also build projects to feature in your portfolio during your job search. Use the links below to start training to become a:
This gold & robin’s egg blue color palette evokes grace with a hint of luxury. Robin’s egg blue is a soft and subtle color that exudes an air of freshness. Pairing it with glittery gold will bring the perfect touch of elegance to any blog design. You certainly can’t go wrong with this pretty color duo.
Gold & Egg Blue Color Palette
This time we are mixing pastels with darker and more vibrant colors. I hope you like such a combination! Below I have created for you a simple mood board featuring today’s color combination. It is in perfect Pinterest format, so feel free to pin it for later.
See our collection of other gorgeous color palettes by visiting our color palette section.
What do you think about our gold & egg blue palette? Where would you use it? I think it will look great both for interior design and digital arts. There are really no limits here. We would love to hear your thoughts, so make sure to share them in the comments below.
Lastly, learn about the power of color in blog design in our blog post to see how important colors are in all the projects you create.
If you like gold accents in the design, make sure to check our Blogger Templates where you will find pre-made templates like the Clementine below.
If you prefer softer shades, make sure to check our planners!
Life Planner
(pastel green)
Blog Planner
(pastel brown)
If you create something using today’s color palette don’t forget to share it with us!
The Well section recently challenged readers to come up with a single word to set the tone of their life for the next 12 months. Before you read what others chose, pick your own, and tell us why you chose it.
The editor of the Well newsletter suggests focusing on the things that are most meaningful to you and the positive changes you’d like to make in your life, no matter what 2022 might have in store.
Tell us your word and why you chose it in the comments, then read the related article to see other readers’ choices.
Want more Picture Prompts? Find them all in this column.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
Under the Imperial Household Law, which governs the succession of Japan’s emperors, women are not allowed to reign on the throne. The law also stipulates that Princess Mako must relinquish her royal title because she is marrying a commoner, and she will become a commoner herself. Any children she has will not be in line to the throne.
A vast majority of the Japanese public thinks the law should be amended so that women — including Princess Aiko, the 19-year-old daughter of the current emperor, Naruhito — can sit on the throne. A recent survey by Kyodo News showed that about 80 percent also want children born of royal women like Princess Mako to be in the line of succession.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word relinquish in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how relinquish can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
Think about a time when you experienced rejection. How did it feel in the moment? How do you feel about it now?
Looking back, are there setbacks that you are now grateful to have experienced? Do you believe that rejection can sometimes be a good thing?
An aspiring actor named Axel Webber went viral on TikTok this week — not for achieving his goal of getting into the Juilliard School, but for being rejected. He received reassuring comments from thousands of strangers, as well as messages of support from influential artists like Charlie Puth, Diplo and Jeremy O. Harris.
On Monday morning, Axel Webber, a 22-year-old from Cumming, Ga., a town outside Atlanta, posted a TikTok updating his followers on an audition he’d completed the day before on Zoom for the Juilliard School’s undergraduate drama program. For the past month, Mr. Webber had used the platform to talk about his dreams of attending the prestigious, highly competitive drama school and the big audition that was required for the admissions process.
When the verdict from Juilliard came in, Mr. Webber pulled up the message on his computer and read it aloud for his audience of 2.4 million followers on TikTok. It was a rejection. “You are no longer under consideration for admission for Fall 2022,” he read. Mr. Webber looked crestfallen. “Now, we’re going to have to find a different way to be an actor. Thanks for watching the journey,” he said. A Juilliard spokesperson declined to comment about Mr. Webber’s admission for this article.
“U R DONE, SOOO DONE FOR NOT GETTING AXEL IN 💀💀💀🤚🏽🤚🏽🤚🏽,” a top comment reads. It has over 21,000 likes. Users started the hashtag #JusticeForAxel and left more than a thousand one-star reviews of Juilliard on Google, tanking the school’s search results with negative reviews. Some fans spoke of planning an in-person protest at Juilliard’s campus to voice their frustration.
“I do appreciate all the responses,” Mr. Webber said, “but people are absolutely tearing them to shreds. I’m grateful, but we don’t have to bash Juilliard. I want to spread positivity.”
When have you experienced rejection? Have the consequences of a rejection ever been different, or even better, than you thought they would have been?
Why do you think so many people rallied behind Mr. Webber online? Did you relate to any aspect of his story?
Do you think that it is important to openly discuss the times we fail to achieve our goals? Why or why not? Why do you think Mr. Webber chose to share his experience?
Some of the people quoted in the article, including the playwright Jeremy O. Harris, now think Mr. Webber’s story may be a marketing ploy. Do you think the story is authentic? Why or why not?
How important do you think elite credentials like a Juilliard degree are to achieving success? Do you think that Mr. Webber is better off for not having gotten in to the school? Why or why not?
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
This lesson is a part of our new Accessible Activities feature, which aims to welcome a wider variety of learners to our site and to The Times. Learn more and tell us what you think here.
Sea slugs that can crawl around without their bodies. Tortoises that hunt baby birds. A bird with a broken beak that uses a tool to comb himself. These are some of the animals profiled in The New York Times’s roundup of the most fascinating animals of 2021.
In this lesson, you will learn about six different animals and what makes them special. Then, you will research another interesting animal discovery that The New York Times reported on last year.
Warm-Up
In your journal, respond to these questions about animals using words or drawings:
What is your favorite animal? Why? What is special or unique about it?
Think about the most unusual or strange animal you’ve heard of: What makes this animal so interesting or different?
Vocabulary
Take a look at the 11 words below. Do you know what they mean? Are any of these words new to you?
Make sure you are familiar with these 11 words before reading the featured article. Go to vocabulary.com to learn what each word means and to practice using them.
1. Why do some sea slugs “dump their bodies”? Does this remind you of an action any other animals or organisms take?
2. The article says that giant tortoises “look so gentle,” but they aren’t always. Why not? Do you agree with Justin Gerlach, a Cambridge ecologist, that witnessing their behavior is “horrifying”? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think scientists found it so fascinating that elephant trunks could pick up a tortilla chip without breaking it? What else would you like to see an elephant pick up to test its nimbleness?
4. Why do you think the author called Bruce, the kea, “one of the most charming creatures of the year”?
5. The author described titmice and other Parids as “mischievous.” Why?
All of the animals you read about first appeared in the Trilobites column. Learn about another animal by reading one of these short Trilobites articles in its entirety:
As you read, write down three fascinating facts you learned about the animal. What makes this creature special or different? Then, write down two questions you have about the animal or its behavior. Finally, draw one picture of the animal based on its description in the article.
Share what you found with your classmates and learn about the animals they researched.
Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.
