The Teach Different Podcast

Should our feelings be the guide for our actions? Self-motivation is an important skill for students of all ages to master. It's important for students to reflect upon what motivates them to do their best. The challenge with self-motivation is to find exactly what triggers a person to become invested and interested in something enough to see it to completion. For some, motivation is more feeling-based; for others, more thinking-based. Finding that reliable guide for personal motivation is essential for success in life. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about self-motivation using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image: Flickr | Rinehart, F. A.| Creative Commons

Can you be happy without freedom? Freedom and happiness are two concepts that most students believe have undeniable value. Look no further than the Declaration of Independence and its famous phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to see evidence of this value. Yet, on a personal level, it is an open question whether independence actually leads to happiness in all cases for all people. Sometimes, surrendering independence might be necessary to gain fulfillment. Students have the life-long challenge of deciding when pursuing independence, or giving it up, is the best path to follow to get what they want. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about freedom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikimedia

What's the best way to earn respect? Respect is something all children want. The question is how to get it. Children are told that if they hold themselves in high regard, people will want to be around them. They are also told that respect comes from doing things for others. Though people differ on the exact path to take to get there, all agree that respect is a worthwhile pursuit which leads to greater self-awareness and self-efficacy. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about respect using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. Teach Different serves educational institutions, families, corporate entities, and mental health communities. If you think the TD method could be effective in your setting, we'd love to hear from you! support@teachdifferent.com   Image source: Wikimedia | Kevin Smith NYC  

How do we know when someone is telling the truth? Building healthy human relationships requires good communication skills. To master the skill of communication students must figure out not only what to say but also how long they should talk. Speaking too much raises suspicion in many settings, whereas speaking too little leaves the listener confused and needing more. Finding the right balance is the key to productive long-lasting relationships with others. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about communication using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Picryl | Library of Congress Public Domain

How do we know when to be silent? Students make moral choices everyday. These choices usually revolve around specific actions they take, like helping a friend, deciding not to cheat on a test, or obeying curfew. Students also make the moral choice to be silent after witnessing the immoral behavior of others. In these situations, fear and the impulse for self-protection override the duty to help others. Learning when to speak up in the midst of injustice is a very important part of moral development. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about self-expression using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikimedia | Elsa Dorfman

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 using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikimedia | Norto Mendez  

Is goal-setting necessary for success? Goal-setting is a skill of highly successful people. Some kids are really good at it. They map out their life events with certain outcomes in mind. Other kids just want to ‘go with the flow’ and goal-setting makes them nervous, unfulfilled, and downright discouraged. Because the value of goal-setting is somewhat unclear, students must decide for themselves how they want to integrate it into their life activities. This will be a life-long challenge. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about goal-setting using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikimedia | Tom@HK

How do we know when we should intervene to solve problems? Students confront problems everyday. Some are small, like how to study for an exam, or get a ride to school, and some large, like how to support their friends who are in unhealthy relationships. All of these problems involve the choice of whether to intervene or do nothing and let the situation play itself out. Each choice is hard and leads to consequences. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about problem solving using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Flickr | Raed Mansour

How do we know when we should put others ahead of ourselves? An ambitious person is confident and self-motivated, both of which are qualities we want to see in our children. But, ambition sometimes gets us into trouble. It encourages us to compete with others over scarce resources and that causes us to be selfish and uncompromising sometimes. It's important to recognize that there are other people in the world and we have an ethical obligation to think about their needs as well. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about ambition using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. If you are a teacher, administrator or instructional leader, join our worldwide professional learning community FREE for 30 days to have more conversations and explore our library of inspiring quotes. Not an educator but somebody who loves to discuss big ideas that really matter?  Our community is here to uplift you too. Join Us Image source: Wikimedia

Should we have the freedom to disobey rules? Freedom is a concept near and dear to the hearts of kids. Freedom means they can do what they want, when they want, but there are limits to freedom placed on children by parents, schools, and society. When kids confront these limits they must decide whether or not to disobey the rules or conform to them. This is an inescapable ethical dilemma that stays with them for the rest of their lives. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about civil disobedience using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikipedia | Benjamin D. Maxham

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 with what kids believe inside. Decisions on which company to keep are never easy but they are integral to the healthy moral development of human beings. Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about character using the Teach Different 3-Step Method. 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 access to our robust library of resources, conversation plans, and lively discussions among teachers and faculty.   Image source: Wikimedia |  John Trumbull