Creating Our Ideal Future in 3rd Grade: A Teacher’s Take on Andrew Huberman’s New Podcast


There’s a new podcast episode on Andrew Huberman’s show that really got me thinking about how we set goals, think about our future, and—let’s be real—teach our kids how to do the same. In this episode, Huberman chats with Ari Wallach about creating your ideal future. Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t third grade a bit early to talk about the future?” But if you listen to what they’re saying, it’s clear that it’s never too early. In fact, it might be the perfect time!


Step 1: Teaching Kids to Dream Big—But Also Be Real

One of the big ideas from this episode is imagining the future you want and then figuring out how to get there. We talk about what our dreams are—a favorite for third graders. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” gets answers like “astronaut,” “pro basketball player,” or “a baker with a dog bakery” (I loved that one). To kick off this conversation, I read “What Do You Do with an Idea?” by Kobi Yamada. It’s the story of a child who has a big idea and learns how to nurture it, even when it’s challenging. After reading, I ask, “What will you need to learn to do that?” This is where we get real—helping them see that their dreams are possible but require effort, skill-building, and yes, a little bit of planning.


Step 2: Goal Setting—Like a Pro, but Third Grade Style


Huberman and Wallach talk a lot about breaking down big dreams into smaller goals. In our classroom, we turn this into a little game. Let’s say a student wants to get better at math, read more books, or make new friends. We create what we call “tiny goals.” These are small steps that are totally doable. For example, a “tiny goal” might be to practice math for five minutes every day after school or ask one new friend to play at recess. Achieving these little goals helps kids see that progress is possible and that big dreams aren’t as far off as they might think.


Step 3: The Manners Part—How We Treat Each Other Matters


One thing I love about teaching is helping kids develop good manners and kindness. Huberman and Wallach bring up the idea that our ideal future isn’t just about what we accomplish, but how we treat the people around us. So, we add manners into our goal-setting by thinking about how our actions affect our classmates, family, and community. This is where we set goals like “be a better listener,” “help someone every day,” or “give three compliments.” These may sound small, but they’re the building blocks of being a good human.


Step 4: Celebrating the Wins (Even the Small Ones)


One of the coolest things I learned from the podcast is that celebrating small wins can really boost motivation. In our classroom, we give each other shoutouts and do a little cheer when someone reaches a tiny goal. It’s a small way to help kids recognize their progress and feel proud of themselves. (Plus, who doesn’t love a good cheer?)


Final Thoughts


Huberman’s podcast reminds us that creating a good future is possible, even if you’re nine years old. We may not know what the future holds, but we can teach our students how to imagine a future they’re excited about, make little steps toward it, and treat others well along the way. And if they walk away with those three skills, I’d say that’s a pretty great start.

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