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- Join the Random Acts of Kindness Movement
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- Accountability vs Responsibility
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- Episode #13: Connecting Connected Educators with Dr. Will Deyamport
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- 7 Strategies for Personal Professional Learning
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- 5 Reasons to Personalize Learning
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- Personalized Learning Initiative in Wisconsin
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- BYOL + PLC = CoP
- Personalizing Learning so You are Youer than You
- Failure is No Longer an Option
- Navigate “The Digital Waters”
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Personalizing Learning so You are Youer than You

Dr. Seuss is brilliant. Let’s learn from Dr. Seuss. He knew that each person is special and unique. I was going through his quotes and realized he got it way before we knew how important it was to personalize learning for each learner.
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
How better to say it than this? One size that fits all doesn’t work for learners today. I like this quote how it focuses on the importance of you and believing in yourself.
“And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”
Believe in yourself and you can do anything. When learning is focused on you, your interests, and passions, you are more motivated to succeed.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
Traditional school that is “one size fits all” doesn’t work for everyone. Some learners feel discouraged because the system is focused on learning objectives that may not even have anything to do with them or have no meaning for them. Personalizing learning for each learner means they take ownership of their learning.
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those that matter don’t mind and those that mind don’t matter!”
When you know who you are and focus on what you believe in, what you are passionate about, and are in a learning environment that lets you take risks, be innovative, and creative, anything can happen.
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”
When you are in a creative learning environment that is open to questioning and critical-thinking, you never know what you will come up with. I still consider this quote of Margaret Mead’s when I think about thinking: “Children must to taught how to think not what to think.”
“Think and wonder, wonder and think.”
When you are open to questions and search for wonder, you will find amazing things. Open your classroom so learning is anytime and everywhere.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Each person is born as a unique and amazing individual. Every child comes into this world having endless opportunities to do whatever they believe they can do. Traditional schools don’t allow creativity or you to stand out. Personalizing learning encourages each child to find and share their unique characteristics and stand out.
“You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant?”
Celebrate YOU! Every day celebrate who you are. Personalized learning encourages each child to use their strengths and talents as they learn a concept.
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!”
So today is your day! Enjoy it! Celebrate it! Have a wonderful time finding ways to make your day the best day so far!
“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.