Teach Different

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 part of human development which requires thoughtful reflection and ethical decision-making.

Join Dan and Steve Fouts for a conversation on friendship 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 Commons | Tilemahos Efthimiadis | Creative Commons

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 of the world acting upon them, conspire to shape their life experiences.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for a conversation on self-determination 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: Needpix.com | Creative Commons

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 make in the quest for happiness shape their characters in profound ways.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation that you can recreate in your classroom 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: Library of Congress

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 the daily work necessary? Goal-setting is an extremely important skill in school, work, and relationships.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation that you can recreate in your classroom 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 | Allan Ramsay - National Portrait Gallery

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 makes students more compelled to act in ethical ways.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about responsibility that you can recreate in your classroom 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 | Al Ravenna

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 lead to even greater accomplishments. Impatience can be a virtue as well.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about patience that you can recreate in your classroom 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 | York College ISLGP

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 unforgettable conversation about character that you can recreate in your classroom using the Teach Different 3-Step Method.

Image source: Library of Congress

Should we always tell the truth?  This is a question we want to say  "yes" to but we know that life makes it hard to tell the truth sometimes.  According to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, truth is the only safe ground to stand on.  The truth protects us, even in the times when we  think we are protecting someone else by lying.

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.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about leadership that you can recreate in your classroom 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 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 decision-making.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts – founders of Teach Different and twin  brothers with over 50 years of teaching experience – for a compelling  conversation on forgiveness, enriched by the Teach Different 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: Pixabay