Teach With Your Strengths

The folks at Gallup Press are at it again, with a great professional development opportunity.Text Cover Looking for a way to have more fun teaching, while being a better educator at the same time? Pick up a copy of “Teach With your Strengths” and you are on the right track.

According to Gallup research, “all great teachers make the most of their natural talents.” Research also indicates that “great teachers don’t strive to be well-rounded. They know that ‘fixing their weaknesses’ doesn’t work  - it only produces mediocrity.”  Refreshing to hear! I’d like to focus on the things I do well and enjoy doing!  With this research serving as the foundation, Teach with Your Strengths offers practical ways to use your individual strengths to truly be a great teacher.

My favorite part of this text is that, with your purchase, you get access to an online assessment that reveals your Signature Themes of talent. You’ll go online, answer a series of questions, and receive a print out identifying your talents. I’ve done it, and it was right on! You’ll use these themes of talent with your text to modify your classroom and learning environment to maximize your teaching ability and have more fun!

You can click here to purchase your copy of Teach with your Strengths. If you want your entire school to get on board, there are great discounts for bulk orders.

Want more information on Teacher Development, click here to access additional resources from Gallup.

For more information on strengths, view one of our previous blogs.

The Strengths Philosophy – What’s Right with You?

The Strengths Philosophy – What’s Right with You?

DO NOT TRY TO BE SOMEONE ELSE. STRIVE TO BE THE PERSON YOU REALLY ARE – FULLY AND COMPLETELY. THIS IS YOUR BEST AVENUE TO ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE. – Chip Anderson

What would happen if the world focused on what’s right with everyone instead of trying to fix each others’ weaknesses? Can you imagine all the great things that would happen? Dr. Don Clifton started a movement in psychology about 50 years ago called Strengths Psychology. The whole premise of the movement centers on research that proves “we have several times more potential for growth when we invest energy in developing our strengths instead of correcting our deficiencies.”

A great tool that Clifton developed in his quest to help people understand their talents and strengths is an assessment called StrengthsFinder®. Not only is it an interesting experience to learn about what our top talents are (since most of us struggle to identify what we do well!), but there is real application provided so that we learn to recognize what we do well and repeat personal success more often. Instead of being good at what we do, let’s use our talents purposefully to be great!

The assessment can be purchased (yes, it is worth every penny) and taken here.

Once you learn about and embrace the strengths philosophy, you may want the rest of the world to learn about it, too. If you’d like to help others see what’s right with them, check out the StrengthsQuest® website under the “Educator Resources” tab. There’s a ton of information (including research and case studies on why this psychology works) for you to learn more, incorporate the concepts into your classroom or sports team and reform your high school.

Other helpful resources for the education world that incorporate the strengths philosophy:
Teach with your Strengths

How Full is Your Bucket?

Vital Friends

References:
Rath, Tom. StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press. 2007.

Professional Development Tip for October 20, 2008