Hey friends,

I’ve been tinkering away all summer to bring you something that I’m actually really proud of.

Now, to be clear, this is the lowest-production-quality batch of videos I’ve ever produced. I’ve owned a commercial film business and still have tens of thousands of dollars of high-end equipment.

And I filmed all of this on a single GoPro and a laptop.

I’m not the least bit sorry, because it’s the least polished but most substantive piece of content I’ve ever developed.

And you don’t have to watch a single second of it.

The best thing I can offer you is something so valuable and yet so completely turnkey that anyone, and I mean anyone on your staff, can pull it off. And in just about an hour or two per week.

Imagine being done with fundraisers that are as exhausting as they are disappointing. Instead, picture having access to an extra $1,000 here, and an extra $5,000 there - regularly - that can help fund all the little things you’d love to accomplish for students around your building.

This is the playbook on how to do just that. And it works for any school leader, at any level, in any type of situation. And it will only cost you about $700 in a single equipment purchase.

Check out this 60-second preview. It could be the only piece you have to watch:

You can see the full details on the course here. (And don’t worry, you don’t have to pay the $499 listed to get it).

Now, paid subscribers can get access right now for free. Your personal access code is at the end of this email.

Free subscribers have one more chance to subscribe at a super steep discount today only. I’ll still offer a discount as we get closer to the fall, but it won’t be this good. Get it while you can. It expires tonight at midnight.

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Most administrators I know do two things in July:

1. Dream about how to improve things in the coming year

2. Take a much-needed break

I love this time of year because it allows us to release the pressure valve enough to look at the big picture. And in education, one of the most important drives or student success is the systems you put in place. July i…

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I hope summer has been treating you well.

I’m getting ready for a camping trip, but before I head out, I wanted to give you a quick preview of something I’m building for the coming year.

Here’s the question:

How would you like to say “no” to your next fundraiser that requires a ton of staff time just to raise a couple hundred bucks?

There’s a bet…

Read more

Happiest of summer breaks to each and every one of you. I hope this finds you on a beach, on a mountain, or at least logging some extra sleep.

I’m a week into vacation and have been to the Oregon coast, completing a few house projects, and am gearing up for a camping trip. And, of course, I’ve been chipping away at the revamps for next year’s newsletter.

I’m really excited to announce the updates, and I’ll get to that over the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I wanted to share the full results of the survey. Thanks again to everyone who participated. It means a lot.

If you’re a data nerd like me, enjoy the results!

Talk soon,

Mike

Survey Results

• Folks like the newsletter - 91% of paid readers and 74% of free readers said they would definitely recommend the newsletter.

• Short, relevant surveys are in high demand - 78% of paid readers and 50% of free readers said they would be very interested in participating.

• AI-assisted design isn’t a terrible thing - Most said effectiveness matters more than how content is created, and 75% of respondents in the newer poll liked the AI-designed Emailable PD.

  • I have a lot of thoughts about AI and some of these results have had me pondering a lot. More on this later.

• You want practical, shareable content. The clearest requests were more administrator-focused PD, useful leadership ideas, and the return of “Would You Rather?” questions.

Read all of the comments here.

Talk soon,

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We made it! Week forty and the final (regularly scheduled) email of the year. Congrats all around!

Here in Oregon, we’re entering our final week. We just had graduation for seniors last night and will get the rest of our kiddos across the finish line for the year in a few days.

It’s far too soon to post much of a reflection on the year, but this week’s Emailable PD encourages teachers to start that process.

I’m big on reflection. I think it’s one of the real advantages of having an extended amount of time away from kids. I do a lot of thinking about my professional practice during the summer and always come back with a short list of things to change. I can’t bear the thought of having the same year on repeat.

I hope this week’s resource is helpful to your staff in that regard.

And I just love this week’s video. It feels like such a no-brainer and a brilliant idea. And while it’s not necessarily related to K12 education, I think this creativity and intergenerational collaboration are how we solve some major problems.

Finally, I’ll talk more over the summer about last week’s question regarding the role of AI in the design of Emailable PD. I’ll also share the survey results and will announce the changes to the newsletter for next year. I think folks will be pretty stoked about some of the new offerings.

Have a great week, everyone! You’ll be hearing more from me soon!

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

College students move into an assisted living home

Possible Caption: Some things just make perfect sense.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.”

Neil Armstrong

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a simple but meaningful way to close the year: helping teachers notice what is worth carrying forward. As the year winds down, it can be easy to focus only on finishing tasks, wrapping up logistics, or getting ready for summer.

The challenge is not simply getting to the end, but pausing long enough to recognize what actually worked. When teachers reflect on instruction, relationships, systems, and mindsets, they begin to see the practices and habits that helped students learn and grow.

This week’s resource offers practical, low-prep ways to reflect in the final stretch, helping teachers name what to keep, what to tweak, and what to let go, so they can end the year with clarity and begin the next one with greater intention.

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We’re almost to the end of the year! And many of you are already done. This is the perfect opportunity for a little experiment.

You in?

So, pretty soon, I’ll be sending out the full results of my annual survey. It was very enlightening, as always. One of my theories this year has been that folks are getting sick of AI-generated content. I had been toying with the idea of going 100%, full-blown Mike-only generated content for next year. As in, I do all the research, design, and synthesis of the Emailable PD, etc.

And so, I asked paid subscribers this question (responses summarized):

I was not surprised to find that no one preferred AI-generated content. What I was fascinated by is that a majority of folks were somewhat indifferent as long as the content was high-quality.

Currently, I use AI like a high-powered search engine. It helps with research, brainstorming, synthesizing, etc. (As I’ve said before, this part of the email - where I’m talking directly to you - will always be only me. You probably notice it’s too imperfect to be anything else.) I’ve never actually used it to generate the design of the Emailable PD. I’ve just never been satisfied with the results.

But lately, generative AI is getting quite good. So, we’re going to give it a shot this week.

This week’s Emailable PD is free to everyone, and the design was created via detailed prompts. I give it quite a few parameters, as well as my previous work to base it on, but the output this week is not Mike-generated.

Let me know what you think. I’d be very interested to get your feedback. So scroll on down and come back and take the survey, if you’re so inclined.

Mike

P.S. We are indeed near the end. Next week will be the last regular weekly installment for ‘25-26, but of course I’ll be communicating all summer about updates, new features, etc.

Mike’s Dying to Know

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Shaq’s 5 Life Lessons

Possible Caption: Resume skills aren’t the most important.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Martha Washington

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a simple but meaningful way to finish the year: helping students notice and celebrate their own growth. As the year winds down, it can be easy for students to focus only on what is unfinished, what comes next, or how ready they are for summer.

The challenge is not simply helping students complete the year, but helping them recognize how far they have come. When students reflect on academic growth, personal growth, community growth, and next-step growth, they begin to see evidence that their effort has mattered.

This week’s resource offers practical, low-prep ways to build reflection into the final stretch, helping students name progress, connect effort to outcomes, and leave the year with a stronger sense of ownership.

Download a PDF here or JPEGs here.

Something Interesting or Fun (or Both)

I found this amusing … maybe you will, too.

Sixteen maps declassified by the CIA 🗺️

Talk soon,

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Man, it’s been a while since I felt totally worn out, but I’m just about there. And there are still so many little events and tasks to complete before the end of the year.

I plan to continue to give myself one day a week to rest, no matter how pressing everything seems. It’s what’s worked in the past and hopefully what will get me through this season.

Make no mistake, things are good and fun, and I’m enjoying the students and the family immensely. It’s just so darn busy. ‘Tis the season, I guess.

This week’s video is very simple and not even school-related, but it’s very connected to the work that we do with little humans. I found it touching. I hope you do as well.

And our Emailable PD is all about maintaining relationships amidst the hubbub of the year’s conclusion. It’s an important concept. I have to continually remind myself to be patient and present with my students, as all the little boxes need to be checked.

Hope you enjoy it!

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Restaurant workers learn sign language for young patron

Possible Caption: The littlest things can make the biggest difference

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.”

Charles Schulz

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a timely challenge for teachers: finishing the year strong while staying connected to students. The final weeks can feel full with projects, testing, behavior bumps, and packed calendars, making it easy for relationships to take a back seat.

The challenge is not simply getting everything done, but helping students feel steady, seen, and supported through the finish line. Small moves like quick check-ins, naming growth, offering choices, and restoring moments quickly can help maintain both momentum and connection.

This week’s resource offers practical ways to prioritize relationships during the final stretch, helping teachers create meaningful closure, celebrate growth, and end the year with intention.

Read more

Another good week in the books. And, according to the poll from earlier this month, 17% of you have already seen your students off to a good summer!

I’m part of the minority (36%) who will have to wait until June for this privilege. But, alas, the day draws nearer and nearer.

All is good on this end. The year is wrapping up at breakneck speed, but this is also my favorite time of year. It just feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work. And colleagues seem to be more “in the game” together than in most other seasons. Does that ring true for you?

I’ve concluded the end-of-year survey and will be sharing results in the next couple of weeks. There were a few surprises and a few bits of feedback that were as expected, but it’s all helpful in making this something of value to you fine folks. I greatly appreciate your participation and look forward to another round of 100% transparency.

This week’s Emailable PD strikes a positive tone, and the video for the week is possibly one of my favorites of the year. Something about it is subtly touching.

Let me know in the voting if you agree!

Talk soon,

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

School Janitor Behind Mystery Drawings

Possible Caption: So many unique stories contribute to our school communities

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

Maya Anegelou

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a simple but powerful habit for building a more positive classroom culture: noticing the good. In the busy pace of teaching, problems, logistics, and the next task can easily take up most of our attention.

The challenge is not that good things are missing, but that they often get buried. When teachers intentionally look for small wins, kind interactions, moments of perseverance, and signs of growth, they begin to see a fuller story of what is happening in their classrooms.

This week’s resource offers practical ways to capture and share those bright spots, helping teachers build momentum, strengthen classroom culture, and recognize the progress already happening in small, meaningful ways.

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It’s been a week, let me tell you.

I got hit with a crazy bug that really cleaned my clock. High fever, fatigue, weird dreams.

I’m starting to turn the corner. The only upside is that it’s forced some rest. This time of year feels absolutely insane with graduation looming, extracurriculars clustered together, and family birthdays, bbqs, etc. All good things, just a lot of them!

Thanks for such a high response rate on last week’s embedded survey about the end of the year. Always interested to see who is wrapping up sooner than later.

And from your responses on the End-of-Year-Survey, it sounds like you are more than willing to contribute to other quick polls to understand how and what other readers are doing in their day-to-day. Which reminds me, click below to take the survey if you haven’t already. One week left! I’ll share the results soon.

Some great resources this week. A solid Emailable PD on lesson hooks and a fascinating experiment at a high school. Could you give up your phone for 100 hours? 😳

Enjoy!

Mike

If you haven’t, please take the survey: Free Subscriber End-of-Year Survey (Paid subs - You can find a link to your survey at the end of this email).

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

A fascinating experiment

Possible Caption: What would we learn if we all tried this?

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“Live a life so when I die, there's standing room only.”

Tim McGraw

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource shifts our focus to another small but powerful part of lesson design: the lesson hook. In many classrooms, hooks are used to grab attention, but they can sometimes feel disconnected from the learning that follows.

The challenge is not that we try to make lessons engaging, but that engagement alone does not always lead to deeper thinking. When a hook is purposeful, it helps students get curious, see why the lesson matters, and enter the learning with a reason to participate.

This week’s resource offers a few simple, practical ways to create stronger lesson hooks, helping teachers spark curiosity, build relevance, and launch learning with greater intention.

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Happy weekend! As the hotter days set in (it’ll be 80+ degrees in Western Oregon today), we enter the home stretch.

I don’t know about you, but students are antsy these days. Oh, and hacky sacks are back! Which means no one wants to do anything except pop out in the hall and kick around.

And yet, there’s still much to be done.

Amidst all the end-of-year tasks, I hope you’re able to find enjoyment with your kiddos and staff before they leave for the summer. Everything seems a bit more pre-nostalgic as summer approaches, and we realize that many of our kids (and some teachers) are moving on.

This week’s video is very sweet. A reminder to let your students run with simple ideas. And this week’s Emailable PD is a strategic tool for anyone with final parent conferences before the end of the year. I hope you find it helpful!

Cheers,

Mike

And if you didn’t take the end-of-year survey on Thursday, take a quick moment to do it now! Free Subscriber End-of-Year Survey (Paid subs - You can find a link to your survey at the end of this email).

Sensless Survey

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

A good word is free

Possible Caption: Small ideas can be powerful

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”

Harper Lee from “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource shifts our focus to another subtle but powerful influence on student success: the quality of our conversations with families. In many schools, parent conferences are intended to build partnership, but often become one-way updates that limit meaningful dialogue.

The challenge is not that we share information, but that conversations can leave families feeling unheard or disconnected. When parent voice is missing, we miss important context that shapes how students experience school.

This week’s resource offers a few simple, practical ways to shift from reporting to partnership, helping build trust, strengthen relationships, and support students more effectively.

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You are my people. Many of you have been with me from year one. I can’t say how much your feedback means to me.

I weigh your suggestions heavily when making year-over-year changes to the newsletter, and now is your time to wield that influence.

If you would take just one minute to answer a few short, multiple-choice questions, it wo…

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I’m writing this on a Thursday night, and it’s been a long week … and we even have tomorrow off. (Furlough day).

I’m not sure what the funding atmosphere is like in your state, but here in Oregon, the system is quite broken. We’re looking at significant staff reductions once again unless we’re saved by a levy next month.

We don’t need to get into all of that, but I only mention it to say that it’s hard to ride the enthusiasm of the spring when there’s so much uncertainty in the air. I’m very grateful not to be personally worried about my position, but it’s discouraging to work under a seemingly perpetual crisis.

Great, new teachers don’t know if they have a gig in the fall. And that’s hard to see.

Every time this happens, it makes me newly appreciative that I have the best job in the world, one that I would do for free if I could afford to.

I’m rambling about all this to underscore one fact … what we do matters, and we’re very privileged to do it.

That’s all. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Mike

P.S. The video is heartwarming, and I’m particularly proud of this week’s Emailable PD. Share the email with a colleague if you’re so inclined.

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Bus Driver Helps Grieving Students

Possible Caption: A support system on wheels

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

Jackie Robinson

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource shifts our focus to another subtle but powerful influence on student learning: the expectations we hold for our students. In many classrooms, these expectations are shaped early, often based on prior performance or background, and can quietly influence how students see themselves as learners.

The challenge is not that we form expectations, but that they can become predictions about what students are capable of achieving. When expectations are lowered, students may receive fewer opportunities to engage deeply, take risks, or demonstrate growth.

This week’s resource offers a few simple, practical ways to make small shifts that communicate belief in every student’s potential, helping build confidence, strengthen relationships, and open the door for greater achievement.

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It’s been a solid week. Soccer games, track meets, and the teaching of double-entry accounting. And yet, there are budget cuts, rising class sizes for next year, and sickness still plaguing every corner of the district.

Actually feels like a pretty typical spring these days.

As you start to wind down this year and plan heartily for next, I hope you’re also planning some fun for yourself in July. The world is moving fast. It’s never been more important to take a breather.

We continue to press forward with about ten weeks of Inspo Vids left for the school year. Lots going on behind the scenes. We’re streamlining what we do for next year. I’ll be sending out some surveys soon to get your feedback, but I think you’ll like some of the changes and tweaks that are on deck.

In the meantime, we’ll cover the constant issue of early finishers who feel like that’s the point. How do we slow down and encourage deep learning, especially in the age of outsourcing thinking to AI? Let’s get into it!

And this week’s video is a bit of a gamble. Not education-related at all, but just full of joy. I sent several such videos out in year one, and they seemed to resonate. We’ll see!

Enjoy!

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

This is just good (clean?) fun

Possible Caption: Joy comes from so many unexpected places.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will inspire-but ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.

Christina Koch, Artemis II astronaut

Weekly Emailable PD

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This week’s resource shifts our focus to another subtle but powerful influence on student learning: the role of speed in the classroom. In many classrooms, students learn that finishing first is valued, and over time, this can shape how they see themselves as learners.

The challenge is not that students work quickly, but that speed can become a stand-in for understanding. When students focus on finishing rather than thinking, they are more likely to avoid challenge and rush through tasks.

This week’s resource offers a few simple ways to shift the focus from speed to thinking, helping all students engage more deeply and see themselves as capable learners.

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Man, what a week. Two of my three kids were quite sick, and it felt like I was back in the newborn phase of sleep deprivation … though only for a couple of days. I think we’ve turned the corner, and I’m yet again amazed at how superhuman you can feel when you have a solid night's sleep following a string of real clunkers.

This week’s Emailable PD covers a topic that I really enjoy: feedback. It’s really quite a big deal, according to … you know, everyone. And yet, I know so many teachers who do it so infrequently and without much strategy. (And, yes, I’m talking to myself here).

I truly hope this week’s PD feels very practical. That’s becoming my singular goal more and more. If it’s not quickly accessible and implementable, then I’m not doing my job. Hold me to it.

And, man, what a great video this week. It really hits home at some of the conversations we’re having in my building. It also makes me want to spend more time at elementary. Love the innocence and purity here.

Have a great weekend!

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Signs of compassion from a deaf first-grader’s classmates

Possible Caption: How far are we willing to go to build connection?

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

Albert Einstein

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource shifts our focus to another high-impact practice in the classroom: feedback.

We spend time giving students comments, corrections, and suggestions, but even then, feedback does not always lead to deeper learning or improved performance. The challenge is not how much feedback we give. It is how students engage with it. If feedback does not require students to think or take action, it is unlikely to have a lasting impact.

This week’s resource offers a few simple, practical ways to make feedback more effective by shifting the thinking back to students and turning feedback into a learning opportunity.

Read more

By now, I hope you’ve all had some spring break fun and are gearing up for a nice Easter with your loved ones. I appreciate you all indulging me for a week off. We rode bikes in the high desert, swam in heated pools, and visited museums. It was great fun.

Now, we enter the final third of the year, and everything is going to get super crazy right quick. My goal is to, amidst the never-ending requests for scholarship recommendation letters and showing up at end-of-year events, remember that when all the hubbub subsides, I won’t see some of these fine young adults … maybe ever again.

It can be a hard realization.

I recently heard someone talking about how it’s no longer fashionable in education to admit that you love your job. I think we’re supposed to be beleaguered public servants, ever taken for granted and asked to do just a little too much.

But screw it. I love my job.

I seriously wake up just about every single day, genuinely excited about the privilege of working with the kids who will craft our future … and the adults that help craft those kids! There’s simply nothing more exciting than the human buzz of a school building. It hums with a chaotic energy not found in any other type of atmosphere. It’s awesome.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

The 12-Year-Old Taking on Cyberbullying

Possible Caption: Sometimes, students know how to solve problems best.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”

C.S. Lewis

Weekly Emailable PD

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Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource builds on our focus on engagement by highlighting a common challenge we all face: explaining something clearly, yet still seeing students struggle to understand.

It is not a matter of effort or clarity. It is something called the curse of knowledge. When we know content well, it becomes easy to unintentionally skip steps or assume background knowledge that students may not yet have.

This week’s resource offers a few simple, practical ways to make learning more accessible by slowing down, making thinking visible, and building stronger connections for students.

Read more

I’m not sure about you, but here in Oregon, we made it to spring break!

And you know what, for once, I don’t feel completely exhausted going into the holiday. I’m not at 100%, but I’m feeling grateful for a good week and excited about some downtime with my family.

Thanks for all of the helpful feedback last week. I got some good responses that folks prefer the more minimal Emailable PD. I’m excited! We’ll keep it a bit more streamlined to ensure it’s accessible and digestible to your teachers. More than anything, though, the goal is always to keep it practical. I hope we hit the mark.

As we head into the break, this is a heads-up that the newsletter will also take the week off. That said, we have tons of resources for you if you’ve got students and staff in your building next week. See below for a link to our archive of inspirational videos. It’s hard to believe that I’m on YEAR FIVE of this newsletter. That means well over 150 videos that are always free to everyone.

Also, all paid subscribers get over 80 weeks of Emailable PD. Just check out the link at the bottom of this email. You can sort by topic and find a ready-to-go intro email for each and every edition. (Free subs, you’ll have to upgrade to get access, but it’s 20% off this week!)

Thanks so much for the support, friends. It’s invaluable. I truly hope you get some rest.

Cheers,

Mike

Get 80+ Weeks of Emailable PD Right Now …

There’s no newsletter next week because of spring break. Buuuuut, everyone can always access the last four years of inspo vids (well over 150 videos) right here.

Also, paid subscribers get access to my archive of emailable PD. That’s over two years of content, with a full one-year roadmap that outlines the best way to rollout Emailable PD to your staff. Just upgrade and get the link right away.

Paid Subs - See the end of this email for the link if you don’t have it bookmarked.

Save 30%!

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

The power of a community

Possible Caption: This is what happens when a school becomes a family.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

Mister Rogers

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource builds on last week’s focus by taking the next step: how to implement structured discussion in your classroom.

It is one thing to understand why discussion matters. It is another to make it work consistently with real students in real time. Simple, repeatable routines can help turn more classrooms into spaces where every student has a voice.

This week’s resource shares a few practical strategies you can use right away to get more students talking and thinking.

Keep up the great work!

Read more

It’s finals week. Everyone’s brain is fried.

Students from taking tests, teachers from grading, and administrators from spring behaviors. Good thing we get a break soon!

Last week, we wrapped up the final installment of our ten-part series on important educational research from 2025. We do it each year. It’s quite fun, but I’m usually glad to shift gears as it concludes.

I got a touch of feedback that the PDFs were getting a bit dense. They always do balloon a bit during the research segment, but if it’s too much for your teachers to digest, then it defeats the purpose. This week, we’re simplifying things a bit. The goal is to split dense topics (like this week’s focus of Structured Discussion) into multiple parts while keeping the slides quite minimal.

To get your feedback, this week’s Emailable PD is free for all. My only ask is that you vote below after perusing. Thanks in advance!

I also love the vibe of this video. Such a sincere environment. I hope your teachers enjoy it!

Cheers,

Mike

👉 Please let me know!

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Philly teacher doing the “veggie dance”

Possible Caption: Lots remember to be human.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“If you can’t do it with feeling — don’t.”

Patsy Cline

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource highlights a simple way to improve one of the most important parts of learning: classroom discussion.

In many classrooms, discussion follows a predictable pattern. The teacher asks a question, one student answers, and everyone else listens. Research shows that structured discussion routines can increase participation, strengthen thinking, and help more students engage with ideas.

This week’s resource shares a few practical strategies that make it easier to get more students talking and thinking.

Keep up the great work!

Download a PDF here or JPEGs here.

Something Interesting or Fun (or Both)

I found this amusing … maybe you will, too.

This crossing guard makes $14k a month on mailed newsletters 🦺

Talk soon,

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We made it to March! Hazaa!

I hope it’s been a good week on your end. A few night events on this end and some cold bugs on the home front made for an exhausting week, but worthwhile nonetheless.

On Wednesday, I sent out the second installment of the new Etcetera mid-week email. Another super high read rate! If you haven’t had the time to peruse it, feel free to give it a gander and give some feedback. Much appreciated.

This week, we’re wrapping up our 10-week series on the best educational research of 2025. It’s always a good overview of recent academic work as it impacts the classroom.

Today, we tackle a positive view of AI (you all know I can be more than a bit critical at times). I think it’s an important part of the conversation to discuss. Drawbacks aside, there’s no denying that AI can save an enormous amount of time, and that’s how we should use it.

It’ll almost always be a win when we can create more time to work with kids. That’s huge.

I think we still need to have lots of conversations about when to use it (basic research, menial tasks, etc.) and when to engage our own brains (synthesizing information, making decisions, etc.). But we’ll leave that battle for another day.

On an unrelated note, I was encouraged to see that many folks would like to hear more about generating some (relatively) easy money for your buildings. I’ll pull back the curtain on this closer to the summer. It’s something I’ve done at my school and have been wondering why it’s not done everywhere.

No scams. It does require some work, but it’s work you can easily outsource and come away with some much-needed funds to spend on kids and colleagues. More to come!

Cheers,

Mike

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Community Connections

Possible Caption: Students need a network of support.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.”

Harrington Emerson

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource highlights a promising way to reduce one of education’s most persistent challenges: paperwork.

Special education teachers balance critical instructional work with extensive documentation, from writing IEP goals to tracking accommodations and student progress. While essential, this work often competes with time spent directly supporting students.

This week’s research explores how AI tools may help ease that burden, showing that AI-generated IEP goals can match the quality of those written by experienced teachers while saving time.

Keep up the great work!

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Welcome to the second edition of Etcetera. the mid-week email that contains little (hopefully) helpful morsels that you can use with your staff, share with a colleague, or simply enjoy on your own.

Etcetera Vol 1 was the most read email that I’ve ever sent, and not by a small margin. Thanks for taking interest in this new little experiment. I think it’ll be fun to continue as I have the bandwidth. I’m thinking that once a month is a good cadence.

Also, I hired one of my students to run social media for my business as part of his entrepreneurship project. (I’ll be paying him, and all such student projects have to find outside revenue, so I’m not shamelessly exploiting student labor😉).

He’s convinced me that video content is so much more engaging than simple text. I’m wondering if that has anything to do with the high read rate of my last email. Let me know if you’d like to see more such content. I did create a series of vlog-style PD content for a time (see below), but it was very time-intensive. Any new video content would be more on-the-fly (unless you all are really enthusiastic).

On to the content for this week. Here are a few pieces I’ve stumbled upon in the last couple of weeks that you may enjoy, but that wouldn’t have really “fit” in the Saturday newsletter.

Cheers!

Keep it Light

A goal for our next meeting

Next time you’ve got a Zoom convo with colleagues, try this on for size.

Twinning

This is crazy!

“They look the same!”

This is pretty heartwarming. Can you imagine how much brainstorming and good advice would come from the overlap of this personal and professional relationship?! They’ll have quite the collection of stories to tell by the end of their careers.

On Doing Hard Things

The gift we can give our kids

I’ve talked about this before, but I’ve noticed the last couple of years that students are much more fearful about certain things than the were pre-COVID. Whether it’s meeting deadlines or wanting to sit next to a friend, my kids seem to be more anxious than ever.

This is never more true than in public speaking. Being a business teacher, I try to teach my kids that developing the skill of public speaking not only builds confidence, but it can also be a competitive edge when being compared to their peers for jobs and scholarships.

In this video, psychologist Kathryn Hecht claims that exposure therapy is the “gold standard” of helping little humans become more resilient (It’s a bit long, but here’s a clip to entice you). In my experience, I’d have to agree.

To address the issue in my classroom, I often let nervous students present to me one-on-one at the beginning of the term. I’ve definitely had students claim that they’re simply incapable of doing it. By the end, however, their final requires that they present to the class. Aside from students with documented accommodations, I’ve yet to have a student fail to make a final presentation.

Sometimes it takes a private negotiation and a bit of a bribe (food often does the trick), but sticking to my guns and not giving them an easy way out has become a professional conviction for me. That boost of confidence is one of the greatest gifts I can give them.

I’ve contemplated digging into this in more detail. I think it’s something that students of all ages could benefit from. And I know that many of my early elementary colleagues are experts in this domain.

Is this something you’d like to hear more about?

Change Your World

A good note to end on

Enjoy!

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Welp, we dodged the bullet for a while, but all my kids are sick. And my wife is coming down with it as well. Which means I’m writing this on very little sleep, so I apologize in advance.

As I hit the weekend with that foggy, stuck-in-first-gear mental state, I find myself thankful for a slow couple of days on deck. I hope that, however you happen to be feeling, your agenda accommodates you.

We’ve got a great video this week … at least I think so. I show it to my students each term, and it always gets a good response. I think people want permission to unplug. Consider it given by this professor. And maybe recommend that your teachers show it to their students if it’s age-appropriate. It always yields interesting conversations.

And this week’s Emailable PD marks the penultimate edition in our series of the top ten research studies of 2025. It’s all about the quality of pre-service teacher prep. Turns out the “just give ‘em a boatload of theory” approach doesn’t really work. Who would’ve thought?

I hope you love it!

Cheers,

Mike

P.S. It may only be February, but I’m already deep in the planning of changes to the newsletter for ‘26-27. I’m really excited. I’ll be sending the “Year in Review” survey early this year to maximize my time to refine things over the summer.

Here’s a teaser:

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why.

Possible Caption: Boredom is good for our students. And for us.

Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”

William James

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week is an invitation to recognize just how complex your work truly is.

Teaching is deeply human work. Every day requires real-time decisions, constant adjustments, and responsiveness to students who vary widely in readiness, pace, and emotion. It is one of the few professions where expertise must show up moment by moment, in front of a live audience.

This week’s resource explores research showing that teaching skill develops not just through understanding strategies, but through practice, feedback, and reflection. The findings reinforce what many educators already know: growth comes from trying, refining, and trying again.

Keep up the good work!

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