Follow The Sun

If you’re the kind of teacher who starts thinking about next year before this one has fully faded — you’re not alone. But what if we approached that urge with gentleness, not urgency? This week is about soft planning — dreaming ahead without pressure, giving shape to your values, not just your to-dos.

Why Edify Spotlight

“It’s So Boring Is a Red Flag”

This piece is for anyone who’s heard a kid say, “Reading is boring.” We explore why that phrase signals disconnection — and how parents and teachers alike can rekindle storytime as a source of curiosity, calm, and connection.

“It’s So Boring” Is a Red Flag: Helping Gen Z Parents Reignite Storytime

Gen Z parents often see reading as a chore—experts warn this harms kids’ literacy. Here’s how teachers can support families with practical, joyful strategies.

WHY EDIFYJeremy Jorgensen

Happier – Dream, Don’t Demand

Soft planning begins with feeling, not fixing.

Take some quiet time this week to reflect — not on what you have to do for next year, but on what you hope to feel. What would it be like to walk into your classroom in August feeling energized instead of anxious? Present instead of preoccupied?

Grab a journal or voice memo and answer this:

What would a joyful, grounded teaching year look and feel like for me?

This kind of visioning doesn’t create pressure — it creates possibility.

Healthier – Use Your Body as a Compass

Your thoughts about school are one form of information — your body is another.

Notice what happens in your body when you think about fall. Does your chest tighten when you imagine classroom management? Do your shoulders relax when you think of fresh supplies or reconnecting with students?

This week, try tuning into your physical reactions as guidance.

If something makes your body tense, that’s not failure — it’s feedback. It may mean you need more rest, more clarity, or more space to process.

Try pausing and asking:

What is my body telling me I need right now?

More stillness? Movement? A walk? A nap? Listen deeply.

Stronger – Plan from Your Values, Not Just Your Calendar

It’s tempting to open up the planner and dive into dates, units, and routines — but before you do, try this first:

Write down three words that capture the classroom culture you want to create next year. Words like:

• Calm
• Connected
• Consistent
• Joyful
• Empowered

These words become a compass for future decisions. When you’re eventually choosing curriculum tools, discipline systems, or even how you greet students at the door — you can ask, Does this support the culture I want to create?

This is planning that starts from the inside out — and leads to more meaningful, aligned teaching.

Reflection Question

What do I want more of — and less of — in my teaching life next year?

You don’t need to solve it today. Just name it. That’s where the shift begins.

🎵 Teacher Commuter Playlist - “Follow the Sun” – Xavier Rudd

🖐️ Five Things to Try

1. Write your three classroom values. Calm. Connection. Creativity. Whatever you want more of — name it.
2. Set a “non-planning” window. Give yourself a few more weeks without schoolwork. Let your brain fully exhale.
3. Make a “not this year” list. What are you not bringing with you into next year? Practices, mindsets, expectations.
4. Walk-and-reflect. Take a 15-minute walk and reflect on your teaching life — no notes, just thoughts.
5. Draft a “feelings-first” vision. Instead of “I will teach X,” try “I want my classroom to feel like Y.”

Have an outstanding weekend!

Jeremy