# True Story Friday: A Low-Burden Strategy for Building Classroom Connection - John Norlin

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-characterstrong-podcast-458738/true-story-friday-a-low-burden-strategy-for-building-classroom-connection-john-norlin
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-characterstrong-podcast-458738/true-story-friday-a-low-burden-strategy-for-building-classroom-connection-john-norlin.md
Podcast: [The CharacterStrong Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-characterstrong-podcast-458738)
Published: 2026-07-10T07:01:00+00:00
Episode link: https://characterstrong.com
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/characterstrong/S8._Ep49_-_John_truestoryfriday.mp3?dest-id=1088075
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-characterstrong-podcast-458738/episodes/true-story-friday-a-low-burden-strategy-for-building-classroom-connection-john-norlin
Duration seconds: 225

## Resource

Today, host John Norlin shares a simple weekly strategy for helping students get to know the adults in their school: True Story Friday. By taking two to five minutes at the end of Friday to share a personal story, educators give students something they often want but rarely get, a real look at who their teacher actually is. He also explains how a little preparation goes a long way, having stories ready in advance, offering students a choice of topics, and even letting a story carry over to the following week to build anticipation and connection over time. In this conversation, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Students want to know their teachers as people, not just as instructors, and giving them that access builds the kind of relationship that makes everything else in the classroom work better. True Story Friday takes two to five minutes and requires no curriculum changes. It fits inside what educators are already doing each week. A small amount of preparation, having a few stories ready before Friday arrives, makes this strategy easy to sustain and genuinely enjoyable to deliver. Letting students choose the topic and leaving a story unfinished until next week turns a simple routine into something students actually look forward to. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

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## Transcript

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