September 19, 2025
You know the saying:
If it doesn’t move and it should—WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn’t—duct tape.
Two simple tools for almost any fix. Teaching, however, can feel like a job for a whole hardware store.
When the Room Is All Wrong
I’ve taught in places where “classroom” was a generous word. Once, they put the band in a former shop building—no storage, no ventilation, and a thriving wasp colony.
Two-thirds of my students were dangerously allergic. The trustees’ solution? “Why spray the wasps? They’ll just come back.” Meanwhile, the nest kept getting bigger.
When the Curriculum Belongs in a Museum
Our textbooks? Dated 1942. Little girls in curls, boys in shorts and button-downs, endless patriotic slogans. Stories of “Dick and Jane” playing cowboys and Indians—complete with brown-paper-bag headbands and dime-store hats.
Not exactly a spark for 21st-century thinkers.
When Students Tune Out
Today’s kids scroll faster than you can take attendance. Texts, Instagram, cat videos—the competition is relentless. Their favorite question: “When am I ever going to USE this stuff?”
And the advice teachers hear? “Get more creative. Tighten the rules. Hand out more detentions.”
“You WILL pay attention in class, You WILL do your homework, You WILL learn Algebra AND YOU WILL LIKE IT A LOT!!!”
Has that EVER worked for ANYBODY?
The Third Tool
What if there’s a tool that works whether the room is a broom closet, the curriculum is ancient, or the phones never leave their hands?
A tool that makes students responsible for their own learning—where the most common question becomes, “Where can I find more information?”
There is.
It isn’t a gadget. It’s a six-step thinking process you can teach and use in any subject. Imagine a learning process that helps students learn by discovering their personal starting point, exploring the subject matter to find what needs to be improved, then targeting practice to achieve a goal. It sounds simple doesn’t it! We’ve all started learning this way. Now we can approach any subject with confidence and the tool that’s appropriate for the job!
Why It Works
This process shifts the focus from what students remember to how well they think. It demands effort, but the payoff is enormous:
- I’ve seen so-called “unteachable” kids advance enough to skip grades.
- High-flyers discover there’s no ceiling on their growth.
- One “riotous” elementary class used it to create an entire original Christmas pageant—plot, script, sets, props, costumes, and music, including a double round (a feat usually reserved for college-level composition).
Too good to be true? Maybe. But when it works, it’s pure gold.
Your Move
Ready to see how the six-step process can change your classroom? Let’s talk. Comment below or connect with me—because the real measure of education isn’t how much students remember, but how well they think for themselves.
We currently have a Consortium for Teachers, Parents, and Administrators where we discuss this tool and solve real-life problems. www.thefeganmethod.com
Many thanks for your thought-provoking post:)