The Teachers Who Last Are Still Wondering
Curiosity isn't a luxury—it's a sustainability tool. Discover why the teachers who burn out stopped wondering and how to practice curiosity this week.
Here's what I've noticed: The teachers who burn out fastest are the ones who've stopped wondering. They've seen it all. They know how it goes. They've got their routines locked in. Curiosity feels like a luxury they don't have time for.
But the teachers who sustain themselves for decades? They're still asking questions. Still learning. Still curious.
This week's podcast digs into why curiosity might be one of the most powerful sustainability tools you have. Not just encouraging curiosity in your students—but protecting your own. Because when you're curious, you're problem-solving. You're experimenting. You're learning what works instead of just repeating what doesn't.
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence... It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day." — Albert Einstein
Three Ways to Practice Curiosity This Week:
1. Ask one "I wonder" question each day.
I wonder why that student shut down during that lesson. I wonder what would happen if I changed my morning routine. I wonder what my colleague does to keep her class so engaged. You don't have to answer it. Just notice it. That act of wondering shifts your brain out of autopilot.
2. Try one small experiment per week.
What if I started class with music instead of a warm-up? What if I moved that disruptive student closer instead of further away? Frame it as an experiment, not a new system. Just see what happens. That removes the pressure.
3. Get curious about your students.
Instead of assuming you know why a student is struggling, ask them. "What's hard about this for you?" "What would make this easier?" You don't have to fix it. You just have to wonder. And when you're genuinely curious, students feel seen.
Have a great weekend,
Jeremy
P.S. If you want to keep exploring practices like this—tools that actually sustain you as a teacher—join us inside The STRONG Teacher's Lounge. It's where these conversations continue with a community of educators all working on the same stuff.
