Why Edify: Helping Teachers Become Happier and Stronger Every Day

Jeremy Jorgensen
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  • EDUCATION
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Feeling overwhelmed or burnt out in your teaching career? Here you will find thoughts and reflections for teachers and lifelong learners. Become a happier, healthier, and stronger teacher. New episodes weekly — start with episode 78, ‘Strong Steps: The Key to Teacher Resilience.

  1. 1D AGO

    83. Why Teachers Should Complete a Yearly Review (and How Reflection Builds Resilience)

    Why Teachers Should Complete a Yearly Review (and How Reflection Builds Resilience) This episode is about why teachers should complete a yearly review—and why this practice is more than just a feel-good exercise. Recorded at the end of the year, this episode explores how structured reflection can support teacher wellbeing, resilience, and long-term growth. Drawing on research, personal practice, and classroom reality, this conversation makes the case for slowing down, capturing what mattered, and intentionally carrying lessons forward. This episode connects directly to a related article on Why Edify and resources available inside the STRONG Teacher’s Lounge. In this episode, we explore: - Why rest should come before reflection - How yearly reviews help consolidate learning and reduce stress - Research on writing, reflection, and emotional processing - How reflection counters negativity bias and rumination - Practical questions teachers can use to review their year - Why choosing “three words” can bring clarity and closure If this resonates, consider sharing it with a colleague who could benefit from slowing down and reflecting before moving forward. 🔗 Mentioned Resources - Related article: Why Reflection Works: The Science-Backed Case for Teachers Completing a Yearly Review - https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/why-reflection-works-the-science-backed-case-for-teachers-completing-a-yearly-review/ - Why Edify Yearly Review (available inside the STRONG Teacher’s Lounge) - https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 🤝 Community Invitation If you’d like guided support for reflection, goal-setting, and sustainable growth, you’re invited to join the STRONG Teacher’s Lounge—a supportive space where educators reflect together and grow stronger over time. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    10 min

  2. DEC 20

    82. Screens, Paper, and the Cost of Speed: Rethinking Learning in a Chromebook Classroom

    Screens, Paper, and the Cost of Speed: Rethinking Learning in a Chromebook Classroom This episode began as a blog post—but it’s one of those topics teachers don’t just think about. We feel it every day. In this live-style podcast conversation, we explore the growing tension between screens and deep learning in classrooms filled with Chromebooks, tablets, and laptops. While technology promises efficiency, research suggests that speed can sometimes masquerade as understanding—leaving students with shallow comprehension and reduced focus. This episode isn’t anti-technology. It’s about using screens with intention and reclaiming practices that support attention, cognitive endurance, and meaningful learning. Companion Article: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/why-screens-hurt-learning-dr-jean-twenge-explains-the-chromebook-problem/ Join the STRONG Teachers Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about In this episode, we explore: - Why screen-based reading often leads to “information grazing” - How paper slows thinking in ways that support deeper comprehension - What research says about reading, memory, and distraction - Practical ways teachers can balance analog and digital tools - Why modeling intentional screen use teaches lifelong focus and agency 🎧 This episode works well as a reflective listen—during a commute, a walk, or a quiet planning moment. If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with a colleague who’s wrestling with the same classroom tension. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    8 min

  3. DEC 14

    81. Small Steps Make STRONG Teachers (Live Reflection on Rest, Boundaries, and Wellbeing)

    Small Steps Make STRONG Teachers (Live Reflection on Rest, Boundaries, and Wellbeing) This episode is a live reflection inspired by a recent STRONG Teacher newsletter titled “Small Steps Make STRONG Teachers.” Recorded as a livestream, this conversation looks back on lessons from the 12-Day Winter Reset and reflects on what actually helps teachers stay grounded during demanding seasons. Rather than big overhauls or dramatic change, this episode focuses on small, sustainable steps—rest, presence, creativity, boundaries, and community—that make teaching more human and more livable over time. In this live reflection, we explore: - Why slowing down—even briefly—can create meaningful shifts - How rest, nature, creativity, and presence support teacher wellbeing - Why boundaries are essential (and challenging) for educators - Highlights and insights from the Winter Reset community - What’s next in the Winter Reflection Series Join us in the STRONG Teacher's Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 🎧 This episode is best enjoyed as a calm listen—during a walk, a commute, or a quiet moment to reset. If this resonates, consider sharing it with a colleague who could use a reminder that small steps really do matter. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    9 min

  4. DEC 14

    80. Feeling Worn Down? How Awe Can Help Teachers Reconnect, Reset, and Stay Strong

    Feeling Worn Down? How Awe Can Help Teachers Reconnect, Reset, and Stay Strong Teaching is meaningful—but it can also wear you down. In this episode of the Why Edify Podcast, we explore the awe principle—the idea that noticing small moments of wonder can help teachers restore energy, improve their well-being, and reconnect with why they started teaching in the first place. Drawing from psychology, reflection, and everyday classroom life, this episode offers a calm reminder that awe doesn’t have to be big or dramatic. Sometimes it’s found in the most ordinary moments—if we’re willing to notice. In this episode, you’ll explore: - Why awe is a powerful (and overlooked) tool for teacher wellbeing - How small moments of wonder can build resilience and kindness - Simple ways teachers can practice awe during a busy school day - A reflective question you can carry with you into the week If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with a colleague who could use a reminder to slow down and notice what still matters. If you’re looking for a supportive space to reflect, reset, and grow alongside other educators, you’re invited to join The STRONG Teacher’s Lounge—a community designed to help teachers become happier, healthier, and stronger. Join us - https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 👇 Share this with a colleague, reflect in the comments, and don’t forget to join the Strong Teachers Lounge for more free tools and support. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    8 min

  5. NOV 24

    79. Lessons from a Life Well Lived: What My Wife’s Grandmother Taught Me

    Lessons from a Life Well Lived: What My Wife’s Grandmother Taught Me A quiet drive home after a celebration of life sparked this reflection on legacy, teaching, and what truly matters. Doris—a quiet force of service, thoughtfulness, and deep family connection. As a teacher, volunteer, and lifelong learner, Doris modeled a way of being that resonates far beyond her immediate circle. This episode explores how her values—consistency, intentionality, generosity, and joyful competition—can inform how we show up in the classroom and in life. Educators and reflective thinkers alike will find something grounding and inspiring here. It's a gentle reminder that our habits, actions, and how we carry ourselves can leave a lasting impression—sometimes more than our words ever could. 🙏 Take a moment to reflect on those who’ve shaped you—and consider how you might carry their lessons forward. ✨ If this message resonates, subscribe for more reflections, share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s continue building a community rooted in purpose and care. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    7 min

  6. NOV 12

    78. Strong Steps: The Key to Teacher Resilience

    Ever feel like your best efforts in the classroom are barely keeping you afloat? You're not alone. This episode of the Why Edify Podcast dives into persistence—that quiet, unwavering force that sustains teachers when ambition fades and obstacles pile up.Join Jeremy Jorgensen as he explores how consistent, meaningful “strong steps” can turn fatigue into fulfillment. From lesson planning to personal wellness, discover how breaking big goals into small, trackable actions builds momentum for both teachers and students.Join us in the STRONG Teacher's Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/aboutYou'll learn:- Why persistence outperforms motivation in real teaching life- How to implement strong steps with students and staff- Simple strategies for staying grounded and resilient- A powerful affirmation to carry you through tough daysReady to replace overwhelm with steady progress? Let’s walk this journey—one strong step at a time.Chapters00:00 The Power of Persistence02:54 Strong Steps to Cultivate Persistence05:40 Implementing Strong Steps in Teaching08:48 Affirmation and Reflection for Growth👇 Share this with a colleague, reflect in the comments, and don’t forget to join the Strong Teachers Lounge for more free tools and support.📬 Get Involved:✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen:👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/👉 Subscribe, reflect, and simplify. Your clarity starts now.

    12 min

  7. NOV 8

    77. Why Simplicity Is the Superpower Every Teacher Needs

    Why Simplicity Is the Superpower Every Teacher Needs Feeling overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list of teaching and life? This episode of the Why Edify Podcast dives into a game-changing concept: simplicity. It might sound small, but it's a secret weapon for happier, healthier, and stronger educators. Jeremy Jorgensen shares six powerful ways to bring more peace, presence, and clarity into your classroom and life — from decluttering your space to simplifying your lessons, self-talk, and transitions. You'll leave with practical strategies and a fresh mindset to reclaim your energy and focus. This reflection is a must-listen for teachers who are ready to stop chasing more and start focusing on what matters most. Explore tiny shifts that bring big peace. Book recommendation: Essentialism by Greg McKeown - https://geni.us/tZVlmD 💌 Join the Strong Teacher Newsletter & Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 🧠 What’s one area of your life you could simplify today? Please share in the comments, and let’s grow together. Takeaways - Simplicity can be a lifeline in a chaotic teaching environment. - When everything is important, nothing stands out. - Creating a calm space can lead to mental clarity. - Identify your top three priorities each week to focus your efforts. - Communication overload can drain mental energy; set boundaries. - Teaching with clarity often means teaching with less. - Self-talk should center on gratitude and grace. - Visualize transitions to maintain mental clarity between roles. - Simplicity allows for better decision-making and presence. - Small actions can lead to significant improvements in daily life. Chapters 00:00 The Power of Simplicity in Teaching 02:49 Creating a Simplified Environment 05:48 Streamlining Your Schedule and Communication 08:36 Simplifying Lessons and Self-Talk Some links in this description may be affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I truly believe in and think you'll find valuable. Thanks for supporting the work I do for educators! 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/ 👉 Subscribe, reflect, and simplify. Your clarity starts now.

    13 min

  8. NOV 2

    76. The Calm Effect: How Teacher Energy Shapes the Classroom

    The Calm Effect: How Teacher Energy Shapes the Classroom Can a teacher’s calm change the entire classroom? Absolutely. In this thoughtful episode, Jeremy from Why Edify shares his blog post The Calm Effect—a reflection on how your tone, presence, and energy can quietly but powerfully shift your students' behavior and emotional state. When classrooms get noisy or chaotic, it’s not just about control—it’s about connection. Jeremy explores how calm isn’t just a feeling; it’s a teachable skill and a leadership strategy. You’ll learn 5 practical ways to bring more calm into your day, create emotional safety, and lead with presence—not pressure. Read the article: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/the-calm-effect-how-teacher-energy-shapes-the-classroom/ 🧘‍♀️ You’ll learn: - Why calm is more powerful than reward systems - How to reset your classroom energy with intention - Simple techniques to model emotional regulation - How your calm becomes your students’ courage Whether you're facing daily classroom challenges or want to deepen your emotional leadership, this episode will leave you feeling grounded and inspired. Chapters 00:00 The Calm Effect in Education 02:48 Practical Tips for Cultivating Calmness 04:41 The Ripple Effect of Teacher Energy 👉 Explore the Strong Teachers Lounge—a supportive space to grow, connect, and lead with heart - https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    7 min
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Feeling overwhelmed or burnt out in your teaching career? Here you will find thoughts and reflections for teachers and lifelong learners. Become a happier, healthier, and stronger teacher. New episodes weekly — start with episode 78, ‘Strong Steps: The Key to Teacher Resilience.

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