🗑 Stop doing too much

🎙️ (LAST CALL) In-person workshop: Student Writing in the AI Age

I’m trying something new: an in-person workshop down the street from my school!

And there are only about 10 spots left!

Title: Student Writing in the AI Age
Description: When ChatGPT can do the writing, how do we keep students thinking? Get plenty of real talk and practical strategies here.

Date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Time: 8:30am to 3:30pm
Place: The Inkwell, 114 N Jefferson St, Rockville, IN 47872
Cost: $99 (includes lunch on-site) (group discount pricing available)

If you’re from Indiana or Illinois (or the Midwest): You might be close enough to consider this! Would love to share the day with you working through this topic.

If you’re NOT from Indiana or Illinois: I’m planning on turning this workshop into an asynchronous online course in 2026. I’ll keep you posted!

Note: Please only register if you’re planning on attending in-person.

PS: Are you interested in bringing me to your school, district, or even to run this workshop? Hit reply and let’s discuss!

🎯 QUICK TEACHING STRATEGY 🎯

👉 The Participation Spinner

Looking for a simple way to get more students sharing their ideas—without putting anyone on the spot? In this 60-second strategy from Edutopia Nicole Bolduc shares her Participation Spinner, a simple way to get every student talking.

Here’s how it works:

• The teacher poses a question to the class.

• Students discuss the question in small groups.

• The teacher spins a spinner featuring symbols from a deck of playing cards.

• Each student has a playing card at their desk.

• Whichever symbol the spinner lands on, the student with that card shares their group’s response.

This simple strategy increases participation, spreads out voices more equitably, and lowers student anxiety around speaking in front of the class. Plus, it’s easy to prep and makes discussions more dynamic.

💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡

💊 The “minimum effective dose” (MED) for teachers

As educators, we are often experts at over-delivering, spending hours grading every comma or perfecting classroom decor that doesn't fundamentally change learning.

What if instead of over-extending ourselves we used the “minimum effective dose” to strategically do less with the same result?

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, defines the Minimum Effective Dose (MED) simply as "the smallest dose that will produce a desired outcome."

He uses the example of boiling water. It must reach 212°F to boil; anything hotter does not make it "more boiled"—it simply wastes resources.

In the classroom, this means focusing on actions that actually move learning forward instead of spending hours doing things that don't push the needle in terms of the change we want to make.

A few ways to apply this strategy to teaching:

1️⃣ Cut tasks in half — then test the outcome.

Identify activities we could reduce by half and still achieve results. Try it with grading, prep, or student assignments.

🔗 Resource link: The Gmail survival guide for busy teachers 

2️⃣ Set strong boundaries on your time and energy.

Michael Hyatt, author of The Power of the Minimum Effective Dose from Full Focus, warns that if you “play full out on everything at all times,” you’ll burn out. Protect your time for what matters most.

🔗 Resource link: Radical Wellness: The Self-Care Nobody Is Talking About

3️⃣ Automate or delegate tasks that don’t require your unique role.

Tasks beyond the dose that produces the desired outcome are wasteful. Automate or assign them so you can focus on your irreplaceable teaching work.

🔗 Resource link:  20 ways to use AI to enhance existing lessons

Curious about all 10 ways to apply the minimum effective dose in your classroom? Check out our updated post …

👋 How we can help

There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:

1. Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.

2. Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.

3. Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!