How often do you put yourself in your students' shoes?

This week:

• Read a teacher's reflection on the discomfort of being a student

• Get caught up on news about the new book, Powerful Teaching

A friend recently told us this: If people can be good at only one thing, it should be learning. And to get good at learning, the first step is being a student.

What will you learn this week? Comment below and let us know!

Put yourself in your students' shoes

When was the last time you were a student? When was the last time you signed up for a class, started a hobby, or simply stopped to ponder a new question and seek the answer?

A literature professor, Jan, recently shared her experience in the classroom as a student when she was learning a new language:

"It has been important to me to put myself in challenging situations and see where I land. I have been inspired to keep trying—watching Spanish speaking TV, using apps, and exploring a Spanish YouTube channel.

"It has been really good to feel that uncomfortable. It makes me understand more fully how some of our students feel when they are learning a language—it makes me understand that I can be really smart and feel really stupid all at once. I don’t mean that in a negative way—it has been a great lesson."

Here's your challenge: Close your eyes (for just a minute!) and think about one thing you want to learn this week. As Jan did, put yourself in a situation where you feel both smart and stupid all at once. (I'm going to learn how to fish!)

We often think about how rewarding it is to be a teacher. But don't forget how rewarding it is to be a student, too. Put yourself in their shoes!

Podcasts, endorsements, and reviews – oh my!

We're humbled and thrilled by all the support this past week for the new book, Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning. A few highlights:

• Featured on the newest podcast episode from the Cult of Pedagogy

• "The best teaching book to read" from the Learning & the Brain blog

• Five 5-star reviews on Amazon in just one week!

• Nearly 200 powerful teachers in our Facebook group

• Book selfies galore on Twitter at #powerfulteaching

Get involved! Listen, read, review, and join. We can spread the word, but only you have the power to unleash the science of learning in your classroom.