Hi everyone,
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.
