What Are You Saying Yes To?

Today we'll have parents in for "Meet and Greet." It's official, summer is over.

It's about this time that I start to get excited about a new school year. This will be my 28th year. I am grateful I picked the right job for me. Working with young people brings me joy.

I also know that challenges lie ahead. Teaching is far more difficult than it was 28, 27, or even 15 years ago. The struggle is real. I am thankful for all of you. Being a part of the Why Edify community has kept me focused on the right things.

I wish you the best as you start a new school year.

Now on to this week's STRONG Teacher Newsletter.

Here's a quote, a resource, a book, and an affirmation to help power you through the rest of the week.

Have a great week!

Jeremy

Quote

"Saying no is liberating...What would you like to say no to right now?" -Elena Aguilar, Onward

This Week's Resource

Somewhere on your plate, you might have a committee, a social hour, a favor, a Saturday get-together that you half-agreed to. Each of those, on its own, is no big deal. Combine them all, and you might have a problem. It can pile up because it's easier to say "Yes" than "No."

I often return to the Elena Aguilar quote. Saying no can make room for those things that build your resilience. A walk. Reading a book. Hanging out with your wife or husband (I hope my wife is reading this.)

Try it this week:

• Pick one thing you say yes to, but you're really not feeling it
• What else would you rather do instead with the freed-up time
• Then, just do it. Say no. Let it go.
• Do the thing you want to do instead. Tell 'em I told you to do it.

Book Recommendation:

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar — this week's quote comes straight from it. A genuinely useful resilience framework for teachers, built on real research. This is an affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Worth Your Time

• How to Promote Student Happiness: Kindness, Mindfulness, and Resilience in the Classroom — Kindness, mindfulness, and gratitude practices that build student happiness, backed by research showing that 40% of it comes down to daily habits.
• The Power of Positive Reinforcement: Building Student Success Through Praise and Growth Mindset — Why negative attention backfires and how specific, well-timed praise builds real confidence and a growth mindset instead.
• 5 AI Activities to Build Student Agency — Five AI-assisted classroom activities that help students name their strengths, co-create norms, and map goals early in the year.

Now Repeat...

I don't have to say yes to everything to be enough.

P.S.

What's the one thing you're saying no to this week? Reply and tell me — I might feature it (anonymously) in a future newsletter.

Congratulations, you made it to the bottom of this week's newsletter. I had fun this summer making some videos of vacation adventures. I've come up against a learning curve, but I really enjoy reliving a vacation while making a video.

Thus, the Teacher Gone Wild series was born. Here's the last video from the summer. I'm learning how to use Final Cut Pro and have a long way to go.

I love a good adventure for many reasons, one being that I am always glad to go home.

And last but not least, anyone who shares this week's newsletter on their social media of choice and tags me will be entered to win a STRONG Teacher Mug and receive a shout-out in a future email!