Who Moved My Cheese? An Educator's Response

I first heard about the book Who Moved My Cheese? from a colleague who mentioned it during a meeting when mentioning how people can be resistant to change. The younger crowd of teachers kind of laughed at the idea of a book being called that and brushed it off. It was soon realized though that it was definitely a real book, and it must have some backbone to it when the premise of the book was being explained and it was recommended that we give it a read at some point! The book title easily stuck in my mind and I thought about it from time to time over the next couple of days and even gave it a few Google searches to learn a little more about the book. Within the week, I went to the library because they had a book giveaway/donation going on. As I was browsing, a book caught my eye, Who Moved My Cheese? There was no reason not to grab it, take it home as my own and give it a read. So I did.

As mentioned above, the book is meant to show how change can be a difficult thing for some people to adapt to. Change can mean more work, it can mean leaving your comfort zone and does not allow for stability. The book uses cheese as a metaphor for things we want in life such as jobs, money, houses, relationships, etc. The story revolves around 4 main characters: Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw. They are out in a maze, which represents where someone spends time looking for what they want--cheese. The cheese is found at the beginning of the story and the 4 characters are enjoying their time by it, eating it, and looking at how big it is, thinking it will last forever. Soon though, the cheese runs out, but not to the surprise of Sniff and Scurry who had been paying attention to the depleting resource. Hem and Haw on the other hand, had not been paying attention to the small changes taking place, and were taken by surprise when the cheese was gone. Sniff and Scurry went out to find new cheese, but Hem and Haw did just that, hem and haw. They did not know what to do because they liked the comfort of their spot where they found the original cheese, they were scared to venture out into the unknown. Eventually, Haw decides to go out into the maze and after some time, he finds the new cheese where Sniff and Scurry also were. The story ends with a noise coming through the maze, around the corner of where the 3 are gathered. They wonder if it is Hem, but the book does not explicitly say if he made it or not. 

Throughout the story, and mainly during Hem and Haw's bantering and Haw's venturing out into the maze, quotes are on the maze walls that provide applicable pieces of advice for others looking for cheese. These quotes provide great insights to the reader as to how to think about adapting to change. 

As an educator, I definitely read the story and especially these nuggets of wisdom, with an education mindset. The book is mainly intended for the business world, but can span across many different fields. Here are some of the handwritings on the wall and how they apply to education:

Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

How often have you been doing the same thing over and over in your classroom? Have you sniffed out any new ideas that might be better than what you currently do? Getting stuck in a rut or a routine can be a common and easy thing to do because it is safe and once the initial effort is put in, can require little upkeep. Continually looking at lessons you teach and units you go through to see what can be improved upon is a great way to smell your cheese to see if it is lacking something or if something should be taken out. If the world, technology, and students are constantly changing around us, so should our teaching methods.

Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheese

This may sound like an obvious one, but how often is it done? How often do you move in a new direction and take on a new, possibly daunting task? If you want to find a new teaching method, the next technology integrated idea, or new behavior strategy, you have to take the initiative to find it. Ideas do not just fall on your lap, get up and find the new cheese!

Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To Bigger Changes That Are To Come

Do not just turn your head away when something you don't like happens. If you see a struggling students, put something in place to help the student so it does not become a bigger problem later. If you see a shove on the playground, do not just dismiss it thinking it will go away. If you see that technology is slowly entering into the education world, do not just push it aside because someday your classroom will be expected to be filled with it! 

Anticipate Cheese: Get Ready For the Cheese to Move

There are many changes that happen within the field of education, and they only seem to happen at quicker and quicker rates. One of the best ways to be aware of what may happen is to constantly be reading up on some of the latest ideas. There are many educational websites, blogs, and books available to keep you up on some of the latest research and ideas. Stopping at that point would not be as beneficial though as it is important to share the ideas you learned to process them better for yourself and engage in conversation with others.