Teach Different

What are the best strategies to confront our self-doubt and fear?

We're our own worst enemies, aren't we? Our internal demons of fear and self-doubt cripple us, and blind us to seeing possibilities. Smart risk-taking becomes impossible. Our confidence shrinks.  Fueling our self doubt are other, more powerful external forces like prejudice, criticism and mental illness, which conspire to hold us back. In the midst of these challenges, we must find willpower and resilience to stay positive and find fulfillment in a seemingly indifferent universe.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts – founders of Teach Different and twin brothers with over 50 years of teaching experience, along with Hannah  Pfotenhauer, literacy interventionist and English department lead at Cole Middle School in the Denver, Colorado area, as they discuss the magical power of self-doubt.

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! [email protected] 

Image: https://picryl.com/media/franklin-delano-roosevelt-head-and-shoulders-portrait-facing-slightly-left, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ Public Domain

How do you know what type of leadership style to use in any given situation?

Leadership is hard work, due in large part to the fact that people are often resistant to doing work and following the lead of others. As Eisenhower himself must have known as a commander in World War II, sometimes people must be convinced to follow orders whether they like it or not. But leadership also entails artful persuasion of individuals to do what they want done, out of their own self-interest and genuine desire. Knowing just the right strategy to use in different situations holds the key to a leader's success.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts – founders of Teach Different and twin brothers with over 50 years of teaching experience – along with Fonda Held and Molly Naylor, school leaders from the Denver and Aurora, Colorado area - as they discuss the delicate art of leadership, enriched by the Teach Different 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! [email protected] 

Image source: Dwight D. Eisenhower official photo portrait. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eisenhower_official.jpg Public Domain

What does it mean to be “at home”?

The concept of home is more nuanced than it appears. On the one hand, we can think of home as a physical place of comfort and safety where needs for protection are met. But we can also think about home as a place where we feel listened to and where our humanity is acknowledged. Our unique definition of 'home' may change throughout our lives depending on who we meet and what experiences we have. 

Join Steve and Dan Fouts – founders of Teach Different and twin brothers with over 50 years of teaching experience – along with Ari Gerzon-Kessler - author, consultant and family partnerships coordinator for Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado, as they discuss the meaning and importance of home, enriched by the Teach Different 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! [email protected] 

Image source:  https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.no ;  Public Domain.

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How do we prevent technology from controlling our lives?

Today, Steve and Dan Fouts tackle an engaging quote about technology from Norwegian educator and Nobel Peace Prize winner Christian Lous Lange. Through connections to World War I, artificial intelligence, social media, and more, we contemplate the proper role technology should play in shaping our existence.

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! [email protected]

 Image source: Store norske leksikon⁠⁠⁠ | Av Historia/REX/NTB. | Public Domain

How do we know when to give people a second chance?

Join seasoned educators Steve and Dan Fouts as they delve into the profound wisdom of Maya Angelou's quote, "When somebody shows you who they are, believe them the first time." In this thought-provoking discussion, they explore the application of Angelou's thoughts on personal relationships and the difficult decisions teachers must make in the classroom. Steve recounts the captivating tale of Jarvis, the very inspiration that sparked the creation of Teach Different!

Image Source: Flickr | Website | York College ISLG

How do I know when to be loyal to my government?

Today, Steve and Dan Fouts confront a thought-provoking quote from Mark Twain that explores the philosophical theme of loyalty. Join them as they discuss the delicate interplay between unconditional national allegiance to country and conditional loyalty to government. This conversation introduces a host of timely issues that relate directly to our roles students, family members and citizens.

Should there be limits to free speech?

Steve and Dan Fouts, founders of Teach Different and seasoned educators with over 50 years of experience, tackle the tension between free speech and social responsibility using a compelling quote from English writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall (referring to the French philosopher Voltaire): "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Join them for a thought-provoking conversation that navigates the complexities of personal expression and justice in the context of free speech.

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! [email protected]

Image source: 1896 Alfred-Pierre Agache | The Sword | Public Domain

How should a society balance individual freedom with the need for stability and control?

Tune in with Steve and Dan Fouts, the innovators behind Teach Different, as they delve into the complexities of liberties and rights, inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois's poignant statement: "The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression." In this insightful episode, they navigate the equilibrium between fostering a society that respects diverse rights, while at the same time, preserving order and maintaining social cohesion. With over 50 years of combined teaching expertise, the Fouts brothers use the Teach Different Method to create a lens to view issues like defamation, book banning, protests and basic civility required to function in a democracy.

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! [email protected]

Image: Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

When is forgiving somebody the right thing to do?

True forgiveness can pave paths to healing and liberate us from hate.  But what about the need for justice and accountability of unjust actions?  Steve and Dan Fouts, founders of Teach Different and seasoned educators with over 50 years of experience, use the Teach Different Method to explore the delicate balance between forgiving and demanding accountability, shedding some light on its relevance in both current domestic and international events. Join them in this critical discussion that examines the real challenges of balancing love and hate. 

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! [email protected]

Image source: ⁠Flickr⁠ | York College ISLGP

What is the best way to persuade those in power to make concessions?

Sometimes progress only happens when people demand change. Unless those in power are pressured to act in equitable ways, they will take advantage of their authority and pursue selfish ends. Sometimes, though, internal self-reflection of those who hold power can also drive transformative change. Progress often hinges on the dual forces of external demand and internal self-reflection.

Join Steve and Dan Fouts – founders of Teach Different and twin brothers with over 50 years of teaching experience – along with Donna Limper- middle school special education teacher and Issues & Advocacy Director of the League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale, to discuss the importance of self-advocacy, enriched by the Teach Different Method.

Image Source: Matthew Brady Public Domain