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- ►2026 (7)
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- ►2024 (17)
- ► November (1)
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- ► May (2)
- ► April (5)
- Nurturing Social-Emotional Learning for a Brighter Future with Cara Zelas (EP159)
- Empowering Students through Financial Literacy with Brian Curcio (EP158)
- Growing Learners in Challenging Times with Kevin Honeycutt (EP157)
- 4 Levels of the Progression to Intrinsic Motivation
- Rethinking the Why of Teaching and Learning with Erik Francis (EP156)
- ► March (1)
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- ►2023 (16)
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- ►2020 (35)
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- ► April (4)
- Episode #97: Build Hope and Spread Kindness to Impact Globally with Roman Nowak
- Reflection #3: Belonging and Our WHY during this Pandemic with Ilene Winokur and Barbara Bray
- Episode #96: Creating an Award-Winning Culture Leading with Kindness and Empathy with Jennifer Appel
- Reflection #2: My Why While Staying at Home by Barbara Bray
- ► March (3)
- ► February (3)
- ► January (4)
- ►2019 (43)
- ► November (4)
- ► October (3)
- ► September (3)
- ► August (5)
- ► July (3)
- ► June (3)
- ► May (4)
- ► April (2)
- ► March (5)
- World Changers PBL by Paula Ford
- What I Learned at SXSW EDU and SXSW by Sheehan Lake
- Episode #70: Taking Risks and Learning from Students Taking the Lead with Rachelle Dene Poth
- Episode #69: Using Technology to Close the Opportunity Gap with Ira Socol
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Blackfoot (Siksika) Nation Beliefs
- ► February (6)
- Episode #68: An Educator’s Journey to Spark the Learning in Others with Meredith Johnson
- Episode #67: Sharing Vulnerability is a Sign of Strength with Jon Harper
- Episode #66: Educate, Be Real, and Live with your Heart with Tara Martin
- The Teaching and Learning Continuum Moving to Learner Agency
- Episode #65: Lead with Empathy, Design for Innovation with Dr. Winston Sakurai
- Episode #64: Timeless Learning by Listening and Observing How Kids Learn with Dr. Pam Moran
- ► January (5)
- Episode #63: Magical Learning by Creating Unforgettable Experiences with Tisha Richmond
- Episode #62: EduProtocols for Infinite Student-Centered Learning Possibilities with Jon Corippo
- Episode #61: Learning Personalized: Habits of Mind, Attributes, and Dispositions with Allison Zmuda
- Episode #60: Start with Why and Stay with Why with Dr. Jim Rickabaugh
- My One Word for 2019: Possibilities
- ►2018 (51)
- ► December (4)
- Episode #59: Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership with Jennifer Casa-Todd
- Top 10 Rethinking Learning Posts in 2018
- Episode #58: Culturize: Do Whatever It Takes for Each and Every Student with Jimmy Casas
- Episode #57: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement with Heather Wolpert-Gawron
- ► November (2)
- ► October (2)
- ► September (4)
- ► August (3)
- ► July (6)
- Episode #49: Create an Innovation Ecosystem that Empowers All Learners with Katie Martin
- Episode #48: Diving Deep into Inquiry Mindset with Trevor MacKenzie
- Levels of Engagement: Balancing Challenges and Skills
- Episode #47: Why Choose to Matter with Angela Maiers
- My Personal Bill of Rights
- Episode #46: Enriching Learning through Global Collaboration with Jan Zanetis
- ► June (3)
- ► May (5)
- Teaching and Learning Approaches Chart (v1)
- Episode #42: Embrace a Culture of Joy with Dean Shareski
- Episode #41: Supporting and Mentoring Teachers with Ilene Winokur Alzaid
- Opportunities for Choice: The Learning Path to Advocacy and Innovation
- Episode #40: Asking Good Questions and Separating Fact from Fiction with Sara Armstrong
- ► April (3)
- ► March (4)
- ► February (7)
- Episode #33: Making, Creating, and Innovating with Personalized Learning with Travis Lape
- I believe…
- Episode #32: Connect, Collaborate, Create with Sylvia Duckworth
- Development of Ownership: From Compliance to Autonomy
- Episode #31: Awakening Wisdom with Linda Inlay
- Inquiry Mindset Review
- Episode #30: Innovation, Technology, and Human-Centered Design with Naomi Harm
- ► January (8)
- Episode #29: Learn about the World with the World with Julie Lindsay
- 6 Tips to Find Your Magic
- Episode #28: The Why and The Way of Inquiry and PBL with Ross Cooper
- Continuum of Motivation: Embracing a Love of Learning
- Episode #27: Authenticity, Transparency, and Culture with Abbie Forbus
- Random Acts of Kindness PBL
- Episode #26: Focus on the What Ifs for a Culture of YES with Eric Sheninger
- Episode #25: Building the Why for Learning with Mike Mohammad
- ► December (4)
- ►2017 (59)
- ► December (6)
- Top 10 Rethinking Learning Posts in 2017
- Episode #24: Video Production for Education and Social Impact with Krista Moroder
- Build a Toolkit so Learners Become Future Ready
- Episode #23: Inspiring Kids to Greatness with Darren Ellwein
- Time to Ban Average in Education
- Episode #22: Collaboration and Creativity in Education with Leigh Hynes
- ► November (8)
- Join the Random Acts of Kindness Movement
- Episode #21: Modeling Behaviors We Want to See with Starr Sackstein
- Design Thinking Process with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Episode #20: A Sense of Wonderment with Linda Ullah
- Ikigai: Your Purpose and Reason for Being
- Episode #19: A Passion for Storytelling and Equity with Ken Shelton
- Defining Learner Agency
- Episode #18: Cultivating Creativity with Michelle Baldwin
- ► October (8)
- Accountability vs Responsibility
- Episode #17: Imagining Together at City Neighbors with Bobbi Macdonald
- UDL and the Why of Learning
- Episode #16: Professional Learning going ROGUE with Rich Czyz
- 6 Ways Teachers can Spread Intentional Positivity
- Episode #15: Digital Citizenship with Sue Thotz
- My Story with CBAM (Concerns-Based Adoption Model)
- Episode #14: Global Collaboration Projects with JoAnn Jacobs
- ► September (7)
- Episode #13: Connecting Connected Educators with Dr. Will Deyamport
- Schools without Classrooms
- Episode #12: Intentionally Designing for Tomorrow’s Schools with Thomas C. Murray
- How Voice Helps Discover Purpose for Learning
- Episode #11: Shift Your Paradigm with Randy Ziegenfuss
- 10 Tips for Active Listening
- Episode #10: Be the One for Kids with Ryan Sheehy
- ► August (12)
- 7 Strategies for Personal Professional Learning
- Episode #9: Framing the Path with Alex Corbitt
- 5 Reasons to Personalize Learning
- Episode #8: Framework for Maker Education with Dr. Jackie Gerstein
- Continuum of Purpose: Fostering a Meaningful Life
- 6 Activities to Build a Positive Classroom Culture
- Episode #7: Building Wings on the Way with Noa Daniel
- 7 Ideas to Discover Magic in Your Classroom
- Episode #6: Passionate about Digital Learning: Shelly Sanchez Terrell
- 18 Ways to Recognize Learning as the Culture
- Episode #5: Running Because Kids Deserve It with Adam Welcome
- 8 Tips to Foster a Sense of Belonging
- ► July (1)
- ► June (3)
- ► May (2)
- ► April (5)
- ► March (4)
- ► February (2)
- ► January (1)
- ► December (6)
- ►2016 (11)
- ►2015 (8)
- ►2014 (2)
- ►2013 (11)
- ►2012 (40)
- ► November (1)
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- ► August (2)
- ► July (1)
- ► June (5)
- ► May (3)
- ► April (6)
- ► March (5)
- ► February (10)
- Personalized Learning Initiative in Wisconsin
- Personalized Learning Initiative in Wisconsin
- The Information Diet
- Personal Journeys in Kindergarten
- Notability App – An App You Will Love
- It’s all about Apps: One That’s Free Today!!
- Reboot to Encourage Wonder
- It’s not Personal. It’s Business.
- Wrapping Personalized Learning
- 10 Steps to Encourage Student Voice and Choice
- ► January (5)
- ►2011 (60)
- ► December (4)
- ► November (7)
- ► October (11)
- Creative Thinkering
- Curate your own Learning
- Who are the Experts Now?
- Stop Hitting Rewind!
- Constructivism vs Connectivism
- What is Personalized Learning?
- There You Go — Being Ridiculous
- Student-Centered Learning: Meaningful Work
- Student-Centered Learning: Changing Teaching
- What’s your Normal?
- Innovation Centers for Real-World Learning
- ► September (9)
- Prepare Students for the Real-World
- BYOL + PLC = CoP
- Personalizing Learning so You are Youer than You
- Failure is No Longer an Option
- Navigate “The Digital Waters”
- Schools and the Search for Wonder
- Rethinking 21st Century Skills
- Building Community Schools to Save our Children
- Middle School Social Skills Curriculum
- ► August (6)
- ► July (5)
- ► June (1)
- ► May (5)
- ► April (2)
- ► March (4)
- ► February (3)
- ► January (3)
- ►2010 (39)
- ► December (5)
- ► November (7)
- ► October (2)
- ► September (4)
- ► August (5)
- ► July (6)
- ► June (10)
- You can be a Constructivist
- Using iPads in the Classroom (Edubloggercon session)
- Being or Bring in a Consultant (Edubloggercon Session)
- Speed Demo: Edubloggercon (ISTE 2010)
- Balancing Act
- Determining Value of Community
- Just Do It
- Technology’s Impact on Learning
- Trusting your Social Network
- Tips for Building Trust in an Online Community
Tags
Fail Better
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” Robert F. Kennedy
For the past decade, we have been teaching with the idea of only one right answer. Failure was and is not an option. But the real way to learn is to try, fail, and try again. We learn from our failures. We also predict the future based on our past. However, we can learn from the past and all the failed predictions.
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time, more intelligently.” Henry Ford
“Grow Your Why…One Story at a Time” includes 23 stories from inspirational educators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Go to this page or click on the book to go to Why Press Publishing for launching, details, and resources.
I’m getting wonderful feedback on how much the information and stories in “Define Your Why” have helped them. For more information about this book, go to this page or click on the book for resources, questions, and links.
Make sure you check out more of the Grow Your WHY podcasts and each post that the guests created. Click on this link or the logo below to list by episode, alphabetical, or reflections.
I am a co-host of a new podcast, “Real Talk with Barbara and Nicole.” Check out the episodes about Authenticity in a Polarized Society around different topics. Click on RealTalkBN or the logo below.
About the author
Barbara Bray is a Story Weaver capturing stories from inspirational people about insightful journeys to discover and grow their purpose. As a Creative Learning Strategist, Speaker, Coach, Mentor, and Change Maker, she has worked tirelessly for over 30 years to transform teaching so learning is personal, authentic, and meaningful. Barbara is the owner/founder of Computer Strategies, LLC with its division Rethinking Learning and My eCoach that has a new home at K12Leaders. She was the past co-founder of Personalize Learning, LLC, and co-authored two books: Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning. In 2017, Barbara started the Rethinking Learning Podcast and the #rethink_learning Twitter chat. From the stories her guests shared and her own journey, she wrote "Define Your WHY: Own your story so you live and learn on purpose." She co-hosts the podcast, "Real Talk with Barbara and Nicole" with Nicole Biscotti about authenticity in a polarized society. Barbara is the author of "Grow Your Why... One Story at a Time" with inspirational stories from 23 amazing contributing authors that she self-published under a new division and publishing company, Why Press Publishing.