Teach Different

Do we have the power to make ourselves happy? Students think and talk about happiness all of the time. Some believe happiness is something we control and that if we just do the right things we will become happy. There are others who think of happiness as a byproduct of a good environment and not something we can control. The issue of whether we control our happiness is an important one because it...

How do you know when to put other people's needs above your own? Students of every age struggle with moral decisions about how to balance their own individual needs with the needs of others. Either way they decide, there is sacrifice. Focus on the individual and they must sacrifice others. Focus on others and they must sacrifice the individual. What's important is that students make a commitment t...

Does diversity makes us stronger? Diversity is something many students confront for the first time in school. They are required to learn with students of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, not to mention those who embrace different traditions, learning styles and ways of seeing the world. When students confront diversity, they confront moral choices on how to react to people who ar...

Should we question what we are sure of? All students have run across "know-it-alls," people who walk into a room and express supreme confidence with their knowledge. Being humble is seen as a sign of weakness. Humble students wait patiently, ask questions, and only speak when they are certain of something. Confidence and humility are equally noble traits. The life-long challenge is striking the ri...

What does it mean to be a friend? Students have strong opinions about friends. They are in the process of making friendships and ending them. Students have different perspectives on how many friends they should have. Some believe that friends should come in large numbers, while others believe the word 'friend' should be reserved for the very few. Forming healthy friendships is an important...

Do we have control of our future? Students are fed the consistent message that they can achieve anything in life if they work hard at it. They are in control of their future. Students are also aware that much of their future is out of their control. No matter how hard they try, they will never achieve certain things. These two forces, the internal force of their own desires and the external force...

How do you know when giving to others will make you happy? Happiness is something all students want. The challenge is how to get it. Students often get mixed messages here. On the one hand, they are told to focus on themselves and figure out a path towards happiness that benefits them directly. On the other hand, they are told that happiness can only be achieved by helping others. The choices they...

What's the best way to plan your life? Setting life goals is an activity we encourage young people to do. If you set goals for your future, then you will become happier and successful because you know what you want. That being said, it's very unclear just how we should plan out our lives. Is it better to set small attainable goals or long-term goals which are harder to see, but inspire us to do th...

Do you have the responsibility to be a role model for others? Many students assume they are just a number and don’t really matter in the world. They don’t think of themselves as role models with responsibilities to other people. Yet, like it or not, their behavior is being watched and they are having an influence on those around them in important, unseen ways. Becoming more aware of their impact m...

Is patience a virtue? Adults praise the importance of patience, telling kids that if they are patient and work hard over time, they'll be in a position to accomplish great things. Success doesn't comes easily, and it's important to develop a growth mindset to persevere. Sometimes a person's life experiences teach the opposite lesson; that going after what you want quickly and aggressively will lea...

Do you have control over your own success? Character development is at least as important as the development of academic skills. A strong character fuels self-discipline and self-motivation, both of which are important catalysts for success in life. Character development is hard work, especially when a person’s difficult life circumstances get in the way. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgetta...

Should great leaders follow? Students understand the dynamics of leadership firsthand, both from the perspective of being a follower of their teachers and being role models for their peers. They have strong opinions about how leaders should behave and what ethical responsibilities they should have to others. It’s important to give students space to reflect upon the qualities of good leadership. Jo...

How do we know when forgiveness is the right thing to do? Students know what it feels like to be hurt. When they are hurt, they have choices to make about how to treat the people who hurt them. These choices give them opportunities to demonstrate empathy and respect for others and to preserve relationships, or break them off. Forgiveness is a moral choice which strikes at the heart of ethical deci...

Do you need to work with other people to be successful? The ability to work in a team is touted by teachers, employers, and coaches as an indispensable skill. Alone, people can accomplish great things, but when people work as a team the potential for success skyrockets. Students know this in theory, but when it comes to accepting the reality of working with others who have different styles and mot...

Should we always tell the truth? Honesty is a character trait to which most people aspire. With honesty comes trust and respect from others. Without it comes fear, suspicion and betrayal. Students face daily ethical choices over whether or not they should pursue the path of honesty. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about honesty that you can recreate in your classroom usi...

What does respect look like in the classroom? According to Emerson the key to learning is respecting the student. The learner has the keys to learning and teachers can teach anything by acknowledging the wisdom of students. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about respect that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. Whether you are a teac...

Should our feelings be the guide for our actions? Ask some people and they'll tell you to listen to your gut when you make decisions.  Ask others, and they'll say the mind. But no one really knows who the best teacher is. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about self-motivation that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. Whether you...

Can you be happy without freedom? Happiness is about the most personal thing there is, and it comes in many shapes and sizes. If you ask Susan B. Anthony, it always involves freedom. Independence gives us the greatest joy. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about freedom that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. Whether you are a teach...

What's the best way to earn respect? We all want respect. It's how we know we matter. You might think there a lot of ways to earn respect but if you ask Confucius, there is only one true way, respect yourself, and others will respect you. Tell that to an enemy who doesn't care what you think of yourself. They want you to show them you deserve respect. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable...

How do we know when someone is telling the truth? ; The truth is, we never really know. Chief Joseph's quote states that you could get a good idea by how many words they use. The more we keep talking, the less we can be trusted. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about communication that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. Whether you...

How do we know when to be silent? There are times when words are helpful and there are times when we talk too much. According to civil rights activist Audre Lorde, you have to speak up, especially when you see an injustice. Your silence will never protect you. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about self-expression that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Di...

Should we question what we are sure of? Everyone thinks they know something, and we all question some things, but very few people question what they think they know. Socrates declared that he knows he knows nothing. If this is tying your mind in pretzels, just think about what you value more, confidence or humility. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about humility that you...

Is goal-setting necessary for success? Success doesn't come easy. We all know that. But, not everybody would agree with Lao Tzu, that goals themselves are the problem. To Lao Tzu, in order to be good at something you have to give up your goals and appreciate the moments you have along the way. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about goal-setting that you can recreate in yo...

How do we know when to have hope? One of the hardest skills to develop is the ability to see the world from different perspectives. This skill is especially difficult during crises like the Coronavirus where all around us we see despair, social dislocation and loneliness. Everything tells us to lose hope. It is during these hard times, however, that we have fresh opportunities to see differently i...

How do we know when we should intervene to solve problems? For most of us, when we see a problem, we try to solve it. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, suggests we hesitate. Some problems fix themselves and the best remedy is to leave them alone. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about problem solving that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-S...