Weekly Inspo Vids - Week Nineteen

Jan 10, 2026

∙ Paid

Hey friends,

We’re a week into the new year, and it’s been a slow start on this end. A furlough day and a snow delay made for a quick week, but it was good to see kids again. As I’ve said before, when school buildings are empty, they feel like they’re missing their purpose. It felt good to be in bustling hallways once more.

This week we’re continuing our 10-part series covering some of the best educational research published in 2025. We tackled “The Attention Problem” last week. This week, we’re covering the tie between handwriting and literacy. Several studies have produced fascinating findings on the topic. Learn how it can be applied in classrooms this year.

Finally, I hope you enjoy the inspirational video this week. Anyone who feels burnout may be able to relate particularly well.

Much love,

Mike

P.S. This week’s entire email is free for all! Everyone can get a glimpse at what paid subs have access to all the time. In addition to years of Emailable PD archives, all subscribers get immediate access to our four editable PowerPoint PD modules, 13 Teacher-Led PD Courses, and special all-staff pricing.

Weekly Video

Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.

Control the Controllables

Possible Caption: Appreciate the things you can’t control. Don’t take for granted the things you can control.

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Weekly Quote

“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud, too. That’s a part of it.”
Denzel Washington

Weekly Emailable PD

Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.

Suggested Email Body:

This week is an invitation to slow down—just enough to let learning stick.

In a digital-first world, it’s easy to assume that faster tools lead to better outcomes. But the research tells a different story: writing by hand plays a powerful role in how students learn letters, recognize words, and build lasting understanding.

This week’s resource explores why handwriting strengthens reading and memory across grade levels—and why typing alone can’t replace it, especially for early learners. The takeaway is simple and practical: when we intentionally put pencil to paper, we give students a deeper, more durable foundation for learning. Because sometimes, slowing the process is exactly what helps learning move forward.