Hi friends,
By now, everyone is well into the year. I hope it’s going swimmingly.
I was shocked on Monday to see that a full third of my class was absent. We’re in our third week of classes and the colds are hitting hard! Thankfully, I’m still standing. Pray for health. And send hand sanitizer.
I hope that you’re still feeling fresh and strong as the back-to-school honeymoon begins to fade. This week, we’re covering the all-important lesson intro in our Emailable PD. For years, I had neglected this tactic as one solely used by newbies. I’ve recently rediscovered the magic of spiking anticipation early. Do it right, and it really creates the momentum needed to keep kids locked in.
Also, I rarely re-use a video and I think it’s been about four years since I’ve shared this one. You may have seen it, but I needed to see this again this week. I have a couple of kids that I need to view more creatively. I need to discern their potential, and this video always inspires me to do so.
Have a great week!
Weekly Video
Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.
Possible Caption: Let’s be creative encouragers.
Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.
Looking for a past video. Check our archive.
Weekly Quote
"Talent without effort is wasted talent. And while effort is the one thing you can control in your life, applying that effort intelligently is next on the list."
Mark Cuban
Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question
Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!
Question: During which decade would you like to be a teenager?
Weekly Emailable PD
Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.
Suggested Email Body:
This week’s resource focuses on a simple but powerful part of instruction: the opening moments of a lesson. When students see relevance, feel curious, or have something to do right away, attention is easier to earn and sustain.
The challenge is not making every lesson feel like a performance, but creating a reason for students to lean in. A meaningful question, an unexpected example, or a clear connection to their lives can quickly create interest and momentum.
These slides offer practical ways to design stronger lesson openings. By starting with relevance, curiosity, novelty, and early participation, teachers can turn the first few minutes into a launch point for deeper engagement.
