Happy Saturday! I know quite a few folks just started school this week. I sincerely hope it was a successful beginning. You’re no doubt feeling a bit worn out. Take some downtime this weekend with your loved ones. You deserve it! And so do they!

It’s been a good week here in Oregon. It rained all of last week, and it seems that we’ve been revisited by summer one last time before we enter the wet season. I think kids enjoyed the short, “second summer” of a holiday weekend and are feeling a little less squirely.

We’ve got a great video for you this week. A heartwarming reminder that there are people all over the place who care for our kids as much as we do. And as many of us enter the second week or second month of school, the honeymoon has subsided, and we’ve begun to notice some work avoidance. We have some helpful Emailable PD tips to help you make some headway.

Have a great week!

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Mama McDonald’s Unconditional Love

Possible Caption: You don’t have to work in a school to become somebody’s teacher.

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

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”

Ernest Hemingway

Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question

Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!

Question: Which of your teachers would survive longest in the zombie apocalypse?

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a common classroom challenge: connecting with students who avoid the work. When students feel known, respected, and supported, they are more likely to take risks, engage, and keep trying.

The challenge is not simply getting students to comply, but understanding what may be underneath the avoidance. Overwhelm, skill gaps, past failure, or disconnection can all make starting feel harder than it looks.

This week’s resource offers practical ways to lower barriers, build stronger relationships, and create momentum through small wins. With curiosity, consistency, and manageable next steps, teachers can help students reengage without lowering expectations.

Read more

We’re just coming to the end of the first week back with students. And, man, I’m tuckered out.

I tell my wife each year that the first week back with a building full of students is equal parts fun and exhaustion. It’s like each day is a huge adrenaline rush followed by bigger and bigger crashes. When you make it to Saturday, you’re burnt toast.

This week has definitely met those expectations, but it’s been so much fun nonetheless. Nothing over-the-top to report, just another week that confirms that I still love this job, hard as it may be.

I hope you enjoy this week’s resources. A hearty video reminding us to thank our mentors. And some PD that challenges us to contact parents on a positive note while the year is young. I fail at this one often, but I’m going to try to actually do it this year.

Have a great week!

P.S. If you didn’t catch the email on Thursday, check out the results from our first monthly admin survey. Very fun! Another one coming soon.

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Former Student Surprises High School Teacher

Possible Caption: We all have someone to thank for where we’ve landed.

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

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

"Purpose is an essential element of you … the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”

Chadwick Boseman

Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question

Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!

Question: When was the last time you laughed so hard that you nearly cried?

If you have one, hit “comment” at the bottom of this post and share yours! Mine: It was about three weeks ago.

Note: The answer to this question is why I love working with kids. Ask a group of kids this question, and 95% of them will give an answer within the last 24-48 hours. Ask most adults, and many of them can’t even remember. Maybe years. We need to laugh more, and kids do it naturally.

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a simple way to strengthen trust: communicating before something becomes urgent. When students, families, and colleagues hear from us during ordinary moments, not only when a problem arises, future conversations begin with a stronger foundation.

The challenge is not communicating more, but communicating with greater intention. A warm introduction, specific good news, the right channel, and a little context can make messages clearer, more human, and easier to receive.

This week’s resource offers practical ways to make proactive communication part of everyday teaching. By reaching out early, sharing positive details, and asking for support before situations escalate, teachers can build trust that makes difficult conversations more productive.

Read more

At long last, this year’s first admin survey results are in!

This was quite a fun exercise. Thanks to the over fifty folks who responded. The responses were fascinating and are covered in detail below. In perusing the feedback about starting the year strong, a few themes emerged:

• School leaders are entering the year focused on the fundamentals: strong instruction, healthy culture, and welcoming students well.

• Your early priorities center on creating consistent routines while helping students feel known, connected, and supported.

• You want to reduce unnecessary urgency and new initiatives so schools can spend more time sharing effective practices, collaborating, and celebrating progress. (This was probably the most consistent finding).

• The reflections point toward a steadier kind of leadership, like being present, communicating clearly, following through, and helping others build their capacity to solve problems.

Here’s a visual rundown of the feedback. The last several pages (for paid subs only) contain a word-for-word compilation of all of the leadership lessons learned last year. I think those alone are worth the price of admission. Paid subs can also access the whole report in PDF form below.

Thanks for participating! The next survey drops soon!

Read more

It’s been a fantastically busy week, but a darn good one.

I’ve seen all of my colleagues, quite a few students, and have made too many staff hats to count. (Check out the video in last week’s email if you missed it). It’s starting feel like the year is back, and I’m here for it!

Can I be transparent about something? Last year was my fifth year of this here newsletter, and, to be honest, it started to drag a bit for me. The PD was time-consuming to develop; it was getting harder to find fun videos, and I just found myself without as much motivation as in years past.

Well, thanks to a few small tweaks, I’m really enjoying the vibe of this year’s newsletter so far. The videos have been fun to find, the PD is coming together, and I’m loving sharing the discussion questions each week. Also, reading the first survey and compiling the results has been a blast! You all have some amazing insights … which I plan to share midweek!

All that to say, thanks for being a part of this. It means a lot to me and I’m glad you’re here.

This week we’ve got a fascinating video on leadership (and followership) and PD on making connections with students at the beginning of the year. I hope it’s helpful!

Have a great week!

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

How to Start a Movement

Possible Caption: Leadership starts something. Courageous followership helps it become something.

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

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Weekly Quote

"No one has ever become poor by giving."

Anne Frank

Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question

Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!

Question: Do you talk to yourself? If so, how often?

If you have one, hit “comment” at the bottom of this post and share yours! Mine: I talk to myself constantly.

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on a foundation for learning: strong connections. When students feel known, respected, and capable, they are more likely to trust their teacher, engage in class, and persevere through challenges.

The challenge is not planning elaborate activities, but making small moments count. Real questions, respectful redirection, and specific encouragement communicate care while preserving clear expectations.

This week’s resource offers four low-prep ways to build connection into everyday teaching. With a few names, a few minutes, and consistent follow-through, small interactions can strengthen trust over time.

Read more

Thanks for all of the positive feedback on last week’s inaugural email of the year. Mighty good to hear that the resources we dig up are still helpful.

Though I’ve already been back to the building, all of our staff report for duty on Monday. I’m quite excited to see folks and catch up a bit. Here’s a sneak peek at a welcome back merch idea. Hat Bar!

If this was the first week back for either staff or students (or both 😳), I hope it went splendidly for you.

Quite a few folks took the first-ever Monthly Admin Survey. Very cool and I’m super excited to share the results with you. If you didn’t get the chance, please do take a quick moment and submit your thoughts. I think the more folks that participate the better the quality of the results for everyone. Thanks so much!

I hope you find this week’s resources useful. A very heartwarming video about the power of one kiddo who seeks connection. And, of course, we’re talking more classroom routines in this week’s Emailable PD.

Quick survey spoiler alert: When answering the question “What should your school do more of this year?” the top answer was abundantly clear: Share successful teaching practices. And here comes the shameless plug …

One thing we try to do with our Emailable PD is to share such successful teaching practices in bite-sized, accessible chunks. And you won’t have to hear, “This could’ve been an email” because it is an email!

So, if that’s your goal this year, consider accessing our Emailable PD archives (paid subs only) for two years of PDFs available immediately, along with our weekly dose of new material

I promise I didn’t plant that question to endorse my own resources … but the confirmation is nice!

This week, remember to go out of your way to make a new student or new staff member feel exceptionally welcome in your building. That’s the challenge I’m setting for myself.

Have a great week!

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Four-year-old heals “inner lonliness by bringing his neighborhood together

Possible Caption: Never underestimate what can grow out of one small, consistent act of connection.

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

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Monthly Admin Survey

Gain insights from your admin peers around the country

Last week, we had about 40 people take our monthly admin survey. If you haven’t taken it yet, give it a whirl. I’ll share the results next week!

Take the Survey (3 min)

Weekly Quote

"Negative energy is wasted energy. You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That is, to me, the sign of a champion."

Roger Federer

Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question

Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!

This is my favorite new segment. I ask students crazy questions all the time. We do it in a structured way every Friday, and every student is required to answer. I thought kids would hate it. For several years, it’s been the highlight of the week for some of my most disengaged students. Try it at a staff meeting as well. It works! Connection is the key!

Question: What is the most unlikely food combination that you absolutely love?

If you have one, hit “comment” at the bottom of this post and share yours! Mine: grilled cheese sandwiches and ketchup

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on an essential ingredient in a well-managed classroom: predictability. When students understand what to do, how to do it, and what will happen next, they can spend less energy navigating uncertainty and more energy engaging in learning.

The challenge is not simply establishing routines, but teaching and maintaining them with consistency. By naming expectations, explaining their purpose, modeling them clearly, and providing opportunities to practice, teachers can build trust without becoming rigid.

This week’s resource offers a practical approach: identify the moments that create the most friction, explicitly teach the routines students need, and calmly reteach them when they begin to slip. Over time, these predictable structures can create calmer classrooms where students feel secure, capable, and ready to learn.

Read more

To subscribers both new and seasoned, a hearty “Welcome Back!” to each and every one of you.

It’s been an incredible summer. I could share all of my adventures, but that may take up more of your time than you’re able to give. For now, I’ll simply drop a pic from the week spent at my wife’s family reunion at Donner Lake near Truckee, California. Tons of cousins, kiddos, great food, hikes and naps. Can’t beat it.

I’m super excited to kick off the inaugural email of the ‘26-27 school year. To think, this will be the fifth year of sending out a video each week?! And my hope is that it continues to get better and better.

As mentioned in my email earlier this summer, we’re changing very little about the newsletter this year. The two big additions are Turnkey Courses (see our first here - complimentary access to all paid subs), Monthly Admin Surveys (see below for the first edition), and Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Questions.

These were developed based on feedback from our annual survey. We’re trying to offer more resources that are immediately usable and unique to this newsletter - meaning things you can’t generate in 2 minutes using AI.

With that, on with this week’s email. This is a phenomenal video that truly underscores the value of holding students to high expectations. And this week’s Emailable PD is all about starting the year with structure.

Enjoy!

Mike

P.S. This week’s full email is free to all subscribers. Today is the last day to save 40% on your first year’s subscription.

Subscribe now

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

New Jersey school requires freshmen to go on a 55-mile hike

Possible Caption: Sometimes the struggle isn’t getting in the way of the learning. Sometimes the struggle is the learning.

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

Looking for a past video. Check our archive.

Monthly Admin Survey

Gain insights from your admin peers around the country

As mentioned above, I’ll send out a survey once a month. The goal will be to anonymously gather and share insights from your admin peers. The topics may be broad, like starting the year strong (see this month’s survey below), or more specific, like dealing with difficult parents or students. There will always be the opportunity to add comments/suggestions to be shared with the group - we can all benefit from one another’s wisdom.

Surveys will always be anonymous, except that they may identify you by basic demographic data (ex. “High School Principal with 10-15 years experience.”)

Finally, all subscribers (free and paid) can participate and will receive results; however, paid subs will receive more comments and granular data.

Take the Survey (3 min)

Weekly Quote

“Success is more permanent when you achieve it without destroying your principles.”

Walter Cronkite

Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question

Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!

This is my favorite new segment. I ask students crazy questions all the time. We do it in a structured way every Friday, and every student is required to answer. I thought kids would hate it. For several years, it’s been the highlight of the week for some of my most disengaged students. Try it at a staff meeting as well. It works! Connection is the key!

Question: How long has it been since you laughed uncontrollably?

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week’s resource focuses on an important way to begin the year: creating clear, predictable structure. When students know how to enter, transition, ask for help, and finish their work, they can spend less energy wondering what comes next and more energy learning.

The challenge is not simply introducing expectations, but teaching routines like academic content. By modeling them clearly and providing time to rehearse and reset, teachers can build consistency without constant reminders or corrections.

This week’s resource offers a practical approach: choose a few essential routines, teach and practice each one, and refine them as needed. With the right structures in place, teachers can create calmer classrooms with more room for learning and connection.

Download a PDF here or JPEGs here.

Something Interesting or Fun (or Both)

I found this amusing … maybe you will, too.

America’s Richest School Districts ‼️

Talk soon,

Read more

Just thought I’d say a quick hello!

As so many of us are welcoming staff and students back to buildings, Week One of the ‘26-27 Weekly Inspo Vids newsletter will arrive in your inbox this Saturday morning!

Be sure to check out the new Monthly Admin Survey feature. Take three short minutes to fill it out on Saturday morning, and everyone will get the results. It’s gonna be super fun and was a major request on this year’s annual survey.

And if you haven’t upgraded yet, this is your last chance to take advantage on a significant discount for the coming year. From now until Saturday night, get 40% off your first year!

Subscribe now

You also get immediate access to our new course How to Raise REAL Funds: The Turnkey School Apparel Shop without paying the $499 price - it’s included in your subscription!

Talk soon,

Mike

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.

Read more

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…

Read more

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,

Read more

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

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

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.

Read more

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

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

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,

Read more

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

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

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

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

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.

Read more

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?

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Weekly Quote

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

Tim McGraw

Weekly Emailable PD

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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

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A good word is free

Possible Caption: Small ideas can be powerful

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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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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

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Bus Driver Helps Grieving Students

Possible Caption: A support system on wheels

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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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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

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This is just good (clean?) fun

Possible Caption: Joy comes from so many unexpected places.

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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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