Teach Different

How do we know when we should put others ahead of ourselves? Everybody wants to get ahead. No one wants to be left behind. Dr. Seuss reminds us that there is so much to find when we don't fall behind. Let's just hope that we don't get too ambitious and forget about our responsibility to others. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about ambition that you can recreate in your...

Should we have the freedom to disobey rules? Some people think that freedom gets in the way, that we should all conform because that's what rules are for. Ask Henry David Thoreau and you'll get a very different response to this question. Disobeying is exactly what we should be doing. That's what freedom is. Which argument wins out when it comes to wearing masks in a pandemic? Join Steve and Dan Fo...

Should we avoid bad people? Kids are in the midst of making so many ethical choices about the types of people they should be hanging out with. There is peer pressure to spend time with friends who may make questionable life choices but whose approval is important for a child’s self-esteem. Friendship advice from parents, coaches and other authority figures often go unheard because they conflict wi...

Is doing the right thing the best way to influence others? There are people in power, and there are people who want to do right. These two people are not always the same. Lincoln claims that doing what's right is what gives us power, but what happens when there is a rule or a law we have to follow that we think is unfair? Join Steve and Dan Fouts for a conversation on power using the Teach Differe...

What does it take to succeed? Going through hard times is something most everybody has to do. Some people face hardship and turn away. They become discouraged and think that success is unattainable. Others see hardship as an opportunity for self-motivation, goal-setting and a fresh re-evaluation of values. Students must determine whether to see hardship as a barrier or an opportunity, and accept t...

What is the best way to find happiness? Happiness is one those concepts that students talk and think about a lot, but rarely define. They are encouraged to motivate themselves to set goals to achieve happiness but the path is never laid out with any clarity. Reflecting on what happiness actually is can help students become more self-aware of what they value in life. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an...

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...

When is the right time to put your own needs above others? Students must make decisions in life about how to treat themselves and others. There is a tension in deciding whose needs should assume greater importance. Sometimes the selfish instinct takes over and there is a laser-like focus on individual needs. Other times, the selfless attitude leads the way. Making wise and balanced decisions about...

Should you always follow the rules? Everywhere a student goes there are rules, at home, in the classroom, and in society. The effectiveness of these rules depends on people's willingness to obey them. Students like to question the rules, especially when they feel the rules are unjust or intrude on their happiness in some way. Students must engage in hard intellectual work in deciding when to...

Do you have to go through suffering to be a good person?   Suffering is a fact of life. Sometimes the suffering occurs on an individual level; others times it is shared with others. People react to suffering in very different ways. Some become bitter while others use the suffering as a motivating force to help other people. Suffering causes reflection and sets the framework for our ethical ch...

Is dreaming good for us? Ask the students what they dream about and you are sure to get a wild variety of interesting answers. Students dream all of the time and some use them to set lofty goals for their life pursuits. Others see dreams as fake pictures of reality. However they are viewed, thinking about dreams is a chance for students to become more self-aware about what they value and what they...

How do we know when we should be afraid? Fear is an emotion we can all identify with. Fear causes stress and discomfort, and makes us do things we would not otherwise do. People react to fear in different ways, some remain calm, others lose control of their mind which causes even more distress. Dealing with fear in productive ways is an important life skill that helps us manage stress. Join Steve...

Is social distancing healthy for us? The Coronavirus outbreak of 2020 drove society into isolation. Schools closed, and businesses shut down. Our social lives stopped functioning, and we were at home with much more alone time. Isolation can breed some sadness and despair, but also offers a chance for us to reflect and evaluate our lives in a positive and meaningful way. Join Steve and Dan Fouts fo...

Do all people deserve kindness? When students interact with others, they have a lot of moral decisions to make. It’s hard for them to decide exactly how to treat other people, especially strangers. They often don’t have much information to go on and must rely on their intuitive judgements and best guesses. How they decide to act reflects deeply upon their characters. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for a...

What's the best way to convert an enemy to a friend? Every student knows a little something about enemies and conflict. They don’t get along with everybody and these inevitable conflicts force them to make choices about how to treat other people. These choices have real consequences as they impact their capacities to build and sustain friendships. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conv...

Can you be successful in life without doing what you love? Success, students are told, comes from doing well in school, building friendships, and finding the right career. The only problem is they aren’t told exactly how to find this success and whether actually loving what they do should even be a consideration. As a result, it’s important for students to develop a self-awareness around what succ...

Do you need knowledge or imagination to have influence in the world? Some students are dreamers who live comfortably thinking about a world not yet created. Then, there are the ‘down to earth’ students who find comfort in facts. These two groups often clash during group projects when there’s a need for a clear vision of an end goal and a clear, step-by-step plan to get it done. Join Steve and Dan...

Is anger always self-destructive? Anger is an emotion that all of us have to manage throughout our lives. Students get angry with their teachers, friends, and parents. It’s important for them to develop a self-awareness around their anger so that they can decide when getting angry, or remaining calm, is the right response to a situation which aggrieves them. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforge...

What does it take to be happy? Students think that more is better - more money, influence, friends and good grades. The idea of cutting back on desire isn’t attractive, yet we can’t have it all. Throughout life students must make smart choices about what they want and how much. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about happiness that you can recreate in your classroom using...

How do we know if working with others will make us better off? Cooperation is not a foreign concept for students. They are told at all stages of life that it is important to cooperate with others. It is also the case that they are expected to be self-reliant and not afraid to accept the hard work that comes with doing things alone. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about c...

How do you know when you should speak out against injustice? Responsibility is a scary word for students. It means that they should take ownership over their own thoughts and actions and not blame others for what happens. Sometimes other people’s actions impact their lives and force them to consider what they should or should not do. Feelings of responsibility strike at the heart of ethical decisi...

Should we trust people with power? Students are no strangers to power. They have parents, coaches, and teachers exerting power over them and telling them what to do. Students slowly develop a moral sensibility towards authority figures and are quick to point out when they feel power is being used in negative and positive ways. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about social...

There’s only one thing that can capture student attention in an age of social media and an education system focused on data-driven instruction, and that’s unforgettable classroom conversations.  Listen to Teach Different co-founders Steve and Dan Fouts describe a way of teaching that can recapture the human connection that’s being lost in the noise. Whether you are a teacher, school leader, o...

Listen to Teach Different's co-founder, Dr. Steven Fouts, share the story of Jarvis and how Teach Different's 3-Step Method was born in the fall of 2017 in a classroom. Whether you are a teacher, school leader, or simply someone interested in experiencing the joy and fulfillment of challenging kids with big ideas, join our worldwide Community of Educators FREE for 30 days. Membership includes acce...