The Slow-Growth Teacher: Notes on Patience, Persistence & Doing Less
Hey friends —
Some weeks move so fast that we barely have time to think. But this week, something kept tugging at me: the idea that real growth rarely happens at full speed. The older I get, the more I’m convinced that the quiet, steady progress we make — one small choice at a time — is the kind that actually lasts.
Here are a few things that nudged me in that direction over the past few days:
The Gift of Time
I wrote recently about what happens when we stop trying to push everything forward and choose to slow down instead. It turns out that learning — for both students and teachers — often deepens when we give it the space it deserves.
👉 https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/the-gift-of-time-teaching-patience-in-a-fast-world/
Persistence Over Perfection
I’ve always believed persistence is the teacher’s hidden superpower. Not the flashy kind — the quiet kind that shows up when you’re tired, frustrated, or worn down, and you keep moving anyway.
👉 https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/persistence-over-perfection-a-quiet-force-every-teacher-needs/
Doing the Minimum (On Purpose)
Matt Miller’s piece on the “minimum effective dose” hit me at the perfect moment. It’s a reminder that doing more doesn’t always equal doing better. Sometimes the smartest move is scaling back.
👉 https://ditchthattextbook.com/stop-doing-too-much-the-minimum-effective-dose-for-educators/
A Video Reminder for the Tired Teacher
I shared a short YouTube video this week on why persistence matters more than the perfect lesson or the perfect day. If you need a nudge, this one is quick.
👉
A Closing Thought on Slow Growth
Most of the time, growth isn’t dramatic. It’s subtle. Quiet. Almost invisible. But slow growth still counts — maybe more than we realize.
Take a moment this weekend to notice something small that has shifted for the better — in your classroom, or in yourself.
Thanks for reading and for showing up — slow, steady, and strong.