AN EDUCATIONAL CUP OF TEA

The Lasso Way –> The Richmond Way

It is hard to find someone who hasn’t heard the wisdom of Ted Lasso even if they have not seen the show. When the first season premiered in 2020, the world was in need of the resilience, optimism, and joy it offered. I fell in love with the show because it promoted kindness, forgiveness, understanding, and connection through a humor that resonated in a time when not much else was making me laugh. Although all three seasons have their strengths, the first season really hits home for educators. I encourage all educators to see at least season one if they are able to access Apple TV.

Lesson 1: Be a Goldfish

This is one of the top ideas from the show. When one of the players, Sam, makes a mistake; Ted encourages him to “be a goldfish” because they have 10 second memories. Ted says this not to imply we should forget mistakes and move. Rather, he wants Sam not to dwell on the mistake but learn from it and move on. Personally, I can beat myself up over a mistake for quite some time. This is not productive or healthy. I know many teachers who operate the same way.

What Be a Goldfish Means for Teachers: This is the ultimate “10-second morale booster.”

• It’s not about being perfect; it’s about your “next play” mindset.
• Acknowledge the bad moment: “Yep, that was a disaster.” Process it for 10 seconds.
• Then, let it go. Don’t let a bad 5-minute interaction ruin the next 5 hours of your day. Reset for the next class, the next student, the next opportunity.

Lesson 2: Be Curious, Not Judgmental (About Yourself)

If nothing else, find and watch the dart scene from season one. Ted stands up for his friend against a bully (essentially) in a beautiful way while sharing a bit of wisdom that I often remind myself when supporting teachers. Being curious means I ask questions. I don’t spout advice. I don’t blame. I don’t say, “In my classroom, I always…” Interestingly, I don’t always follow this advice when reflecting on my own teaching and learning. I have a strong inner critic who loves to judge, judge, judge me and all the mistakes I make. I am willing to bet many other teachers feel this way.

What Be Curious, Not Judgemental Means for Teachers: This is where we stop the negative self-talk. The teacher’s inner critic is loud. We are masters at judging ourselves.

• The Judgment: “That lesson was terrible. I’m a bad teacher. I’m not creative enough. I’m so burned out.”
• The Curiosity: “I wonder why that lesson didn’t land? Was the content too much? Was my energy low today? Did I not get enough sleep? What part did work? What one small thing could I change for next time?”
• Curiosity about yourself leads to self-compassion and actionable improvement. Judgment leads to shame and burnout. Be curious about your own exhaustion, your own “off” days, and your own wins.

Additional note: When being curious, please consider what went well before dwelling on the negative. So often we forget that we are doing really great things.

Lesson 3: Biscuits with the Boss

One of the first things teachers learn is the importance of relationships. We all need connection. We need to connect with our peers. We need to connect with our students. We need to connect with the community. In the show, Ted brings biscuits to Rebecca every morning even amidst her protests claiming she doesn’t have time to connect. He doesn’t give up. Ted understands the importance of simply “showing up” consistently and sincerely.

What Biscuits with the Boss Means for Teachers: This is our reminder that relationships are built on small, consistent deposits, not grand gestures.

• For Students: This is the “2×10” strategy (talk to a student for 2 minutes a day for 10 days straight about anything but school). It’s the high-five at the door.
• For Colleagues: It’s the “Hey, I grabbed you a coffee.” It’s the “Thanks for sharing that resource” email. It’s the 5-minute chat in the hallway.

These connections are vital in education. That teacher bestie can be the sunshine on a tough day. Your regular check in with another can help move the needle during seasons of Disillusionment or frustration. Believe it or not, it is also important to build these connections with campus administration. It isn’t meant to turn you into a “admin’s pet” or anything like that. However, the better a connection you have with administration, the better conversations will be when it comes to evaluations and feedback.

Lesson 4: Believe

The iconic Believe sign resonated so much with educators many of them posted their own above their doors and in their classrooms. It acted as a physical reminder of the right mindset for accomplishing goals. Even throughout the series, the Believe sign went through its own evolution mirroring the changes on the team and how they saw themselves.

What the Believe Sign Means for Teachers: This is the mindset or understanding you want to be reminded of regularly in hopes of inspiring positive change in the classroom.

• For Your Room: What’s the one core message you want your students to see every single day? (“You Belong Here,” “Mistakes are Welcome,” etc.)
• For You: More importantly, what’s your personal “Believe” sign? We all need a tangible anchor for our “why.” Is it a folder of “thank you” notes from students? A picture of your family? A quote taped to your monitor that only you see? Think of this as your “word of the year” if you would like. This is your personal, visual anchor to pull you back to your purpose on the days when you forget it.

These lessons aren’t about being perfect or relentlessly happy. Ted admits he is a “work in prog-mess” while facing his own flaws. The key is that every team member chooses to do better. To be better versions of themselves day by day. It is about growth. It is about grace. As educators, we need this to combat the criticisms we face externally and internally. We need this to keep that guilt at bay when we set a boundary but know there are a million things to be done at work. Give one or all of these lessons a try and see how it helps your own mindset. I would also love to hear any favorite lessons you’ve learned from Ted Lasso if you are a fan of the show.