Three Stories That Stayed With Me This Week
The three stories that shaped my week—and might shift yours too.
We're only a few days into December, and the shift is already here. The light feels different. The pace feels different. In northern Wisconsin, the temperature is very different. And if you're like most teachers right now, your energy is pulled in seventeen different directions.
So today’s curated edition is a small exhale — a few stories, ideas, and conversations that helped me slow down, lean in, and remember what actually matters.
I hope one of them gives you a moment of calm, clarity, or spark.
🎧 From the Podcast: What a Quiet Drive Taught Me About Teaching, Life, and Legacy
A recent podcast episode was born on a long stretch of Wisconsin highway — a quiet drive home after a celebration of life. Somewhere between the pines and the cold December sky, the road made space for reflection about presence, legacy, and the quiet ways teachers shape the world.
If you need a grounding moment in the middle of a busy week, start here.
Listen to the audio / Watch the video / Read the full post →
🧠 Why Screens Hurt Learning: Dr. Jean Twenge Explains the Chromebook Problem
Dr. Jean Twenge lays out a powerful, research-backed explanation for something teachers are seeing every day: attention is shifting, and screens are playing a major role.
This post breaks down her insights on why “more tech” doesn’t always mean “better learning,” and what parents and teachers can actually do to help.
If you’ve been feeling the impact of digital overload in your classroom, this will connect instantly.
⛰️ Don’t Let the Old In: Lessons From an 85-Year-Old Climber
One of my favorite stories of the year.
This piece follows an 85-year-old climber in the Bugaboos and explores what it means to keep purpose alive — at any age. “Don’t let the old in” isn’t about years on a calendar; it’s about refusing to let habit or fear shrink your world.
As December ramps up, this is a powerful reminder to stay awake to your own possibilities.
🛠️ Teacher Tool of the Month: December Well-Being Essentials
I’ve started curating a monthly themed collection in my Amazon Influencer Shop — not as a “gift guide,” but as a set of genuinely useful tools teachers can lean on throughout the month.
December’s collection is all about calm, comfort, and simple upgrades that help you feel more grounded during this busy season. You’ll find stress-relief supports, cozy comforts, hydration tools, energy boosters, and small everyday items that make school days feel a little lighter.
Each item is chosen with one goal: to help December feel steadier, calmer, and a little more human.
Browse the December Collection → Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
A Small Reflection for Your Weekend
December asks a lot of teachers. The days get shorter, the expectations rise, and the calendar fills quickly.
So here’s one grounding question to carry with you: “What’s one small thing I can do this weekend that restores me?”
Not fixes everything. Not solves the month.
Just restores you — even a little. Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of momentum December needs.
What’s Happening in The STRONG Teacher’s Lounge
We’re a few days into the STRONG Teacher Winter Reset, and the community has been incredible — teachers checking in, sharing wins, posting reflections, and doing small practices that create real shifts.
If you haven’t joined yet, it’s not too late.
The Reset runs through January 5, and you can jump in anytime.
Join The STRONG Teacher’s Lounge →
Come be part of a community that helps steady you during the season when teachers need it most.
With Gratitude,
Jeremy
