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 the consequences underlying the choices they make.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about hardship 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

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 unforgettable conversation about happiness 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: Facebook | Jerry Heiman

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 an unforgettable conversation about self-determination 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: Needpix | Creative Commons

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 when to serve the self or other people is an important component to living a good life.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about self-development 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

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 follow rules and what criteria to use to determine fairness.

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: Wikimedia

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 choices around what type of person we want to become.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about suffering 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 | Étienne Carjat 

"With self-discipline, anything is possible."   Teddy Roosevelt

How do we know when self discipline is in our best interest?  Here's a conversation by Teddy Roosevelt that argues anything is possible with self-discipline.  Let's just hope we know what we want and all the hard work is worth it.

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 really want out of life.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about dreams 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 | Horatio Seymour Squyer

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 and Dan Fouts for an unforgettable conversation about fear 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: Bill of Rights Institute

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 for an unforgettable conversation about isolation 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 | Christiaan Tonnis