🌬️ Your Tuesday Email: Refine Routines & Expectations
Published 16 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader!
Small adjustments create big relief.
By March, routines often drift. Not because they were bad, but because students grow, needs change, and expectations loosen over time.
This is normal.
What helps is not introducing something new, but tightening what already exists. This is something many teachers we coach are working at this very moment.
Refinement Over Replacement
Instead of asking, “What new routine do I need?” try:
Which routine is almost working?
Where are students unclear?
What expectation needs to be restated or simplified?
Clarity is often more powerful than novelty.
One Simple Tune-Up
Choose one routine and:
Remove one unnecessary step
Re-teach expectations explicitly
Model it again! Without apology!
That’s not backtracking, it's responsive teaching.
Podcast:
This week: Episode 99!Seven familiar voices return with fresh proof that doing less can change everything. We asked past guests what shifted since we last spoke, and their updates land with clarity: SEL works when it’s who we are, not what we assign; attention thrives in short, intentional cycles; culture moves fastest when values lead the way. Join Tammy and Christine for this special episode! Watch the video for a special appearance!
Next week: EPISODE 100! What! This is a very special episode! Make sure to tune in!
Morning in America on NewsNation, discussing AI-powered toys, digital safety, and what cognitive science tells us about how children truly learn. As technology expands in childhood, protecting development, privacy, and well-being must remain central. Watch the segment here: https://lnkd.in/eSdFnyZM
Coming Up :
Josephine will be presenting at several conferences in New Jersey:
Teaching Our Students Resiliency: Navigating Anxiety, Technology, and Well-Being: March 16, 2026; NJCEC Spring Conference Empower Engage Elevate; Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ
Resiliency: It’s A Matter of Heart: March 17, 2026; Inspirational TED talk engagement: NJASCD Heart of the Matter Summit, Monroe Twp, NJ
The Power of Play: Remixing Learning Through Inclusive,Healing-Centered Joyful Classrooms: April 25, 2026; NJEA PDII Conference:Transform: Princeton, NJ
Edit to Elevate: Simplifying School Leadership for Lasting Impact
Tammy will be presenting the opening keynote and breakout session at MEMSPA Summer Institute, July 27-28 in Muskegon
Edit to Elevate: Creating Space for What Really Matters
Make the Edit: Your Leadership Edit in Action
New from Plan Z:
Teacher Circle OR Coaches Circle - We will be creating a space for teachers or coaches to get together to discuss the YAYs and challenges of your roles. We are only offering one "Circle Time" for now. They will run once monthly for about an hour. What we need to know is - do we start with a Teacher Circle or a Coaches Circle? Please add your preference to the poll below! It will close March 30th and will appear in emails this month. Circle Time will start in April.
Effective Learning Environments - We are working on a new package targeted to support schools in an improvement process to align language, systems, and programs. We are seeking to support schools in creating truly Effective Learning Environments. This is born out of the needs we have observed in schools and heard about from teachers and school leaders over the last several months. If you are a school leader or on your school leadership team, we would love for you to complete this form so we can learn about your school environment.
Is your team or school needing support in refining routines and expectations without overwhelming staff or students? This is work we focus on through coaching and professional learning - and in the Effective Learning Environments!
March isn’t about adding structure. It’s about strengthening it, even at this time of year!
