July 20, 2025: Thermometer or Thermostat?

I recently saw a meme online that said “Be a Thermostat, not a Thermometer”. 

I paused and thought about this for a moment. Thermometers will tell you what the temperature is, while a thermostat can actually change the temperature.  The poster was sharing this advice in terms of the political climate in which we find ourselves.

I began to think of this in terms of us as teachers and our classroom climates.

Every teacher will tell you that each classroom has its own climate.  Its own feel and culture. And that climate, just like the actual weather, can change from day to day, and occasionally, minute by minute.

So many things contribute to the climate of the classroom.  Procedures, processes, relationships, trust, humor, organization.  The lesson, the actual weather outside. The list is endless.  Every teacher can also tell you that the classroom climate is impacted by every single student in there. One student’s absence can absolutely change the classroom climate.

As I pondered all of this, I started to think about teachers and what traits thermometer teachers and thermostat teachers might possess.

Thermometer teachers are masters at evaluating the kids and the atmosphere around them. They will be the one who tells you how crazy the kids are today. They have taken the temperature of the room and can read it to the decimal. They can assess the room within seconds of the first bell. Sometimes even before, as they walk the hall and assess the kids. And they then leave it at that.  Today will be a “I just need to make it until the last bell” kind of day.  

Thermostat teachers may also tell you how crazy the kids are today, but then they will be problem-solvers. Looking for ways to temper the chaos.  Pivoting to include a different type of learning activity that might help to reign in the mayhem. They will figure out which kid (or kids) might need a little bit of extra TLC because they seem a bit off. They will adjust the temperature as needed.  It might require tabling that great activity until another day, or pivoting to include a structure or approach that they know may help to refocus the class or even throwing out today’s lesson plan and pulling something out of their tried-and-true bag of tricks. They do not throw in the towel and accept the climate.  They work to change it by their sheer will, creativity, energy, and optimism.

Having taught for over 31 years now, I have worked alongside a great many educators.  While most are thermostats, there are a few thermometers. Many thermometers are young teachers at the beginning of their careers.  They may not have the resources, experience or confidence to make the kinds of spur-of-the-moment changes required to readjust the temperature. But if they see and hear their more experienced colleagues embracing these thermostat-traits, they will start to see the value and impact of those types of behaviors.

Even us veteran teachers benefit when we work with thermostat teachers.  We are inspired by their creativity. We gain confidence to try new things.  Our sense of autonomy is bolstered. And we feel empowered.

So, as we get ready to begin a new school year soon, may we all be surrounded by thermostats.