More Than a Game

I have to admit I was at a loss as to what to blog about this week. However, after reading Shannon's blog about her sons game I thought about my job coaching. Oftentimes when I tell people that I am a coach they only think I attend practice and that's it. However, I do a lot more than that and at times I really don't know how I handle all of it. Wearing so many hats of marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, and sometimes psychologist. After our first scrimmage this weekend and the first practices of the year I have really taken to heart the art of teaching. Yes, it is an art. We have had many discussion with our cohort of best practices and what a great teacher is. Teaching is a hard profession where each child potentially has a different style of learning and different process of comprehension. We have tried different way to engage and teach our athletes. For example before teaching them a new play we will bring them to a white board and show them the play. Then we will have a team demonstrate the play. Then we will break down the play in sections and have the players go thru the play a few times. We have also added do the play with no defense and having each player run the play from every position. In addition to this we video tape scrimmages to have the players watch themselves and see how they can improve and things that they have done correctly. There is also the technique of having the players draw the play out for themselves, but we will also provide them with plays drawn out from the coaches. Or there are times when we do peer teaching and have players find a teammate and take turns explaining the plays. Yes we also do pop quizzes to where we will have a player selected to explain the play in front of the team. Now after all that you would think the player would never forget the play, but many a times you see lapses. This can be frustrating at times, but you also have to take in all the other factors that come into play. The game itself requires you to make instant decisions and adjustments based on defense and what your teammates are doing, etc.

I felt for a couple of my players who are extremely hard workers but when tested or put into play they freeze or forget the play. This comes with the knowledge that I know that they do know the plays. It is interesting to note that these players also try very hard in their academics and when it comes to the test they have the same type of test anxiety. All these factors make me think about teachers and how they are being tested and how kids are being tested. These tests are supposed to to determine how smart these children are and how good these teachers are. I wonder if there ever will be an assessment test that can accurately do this. All of this just keeps me motivated to understand each of the players I deal with and their learning styles. It takes a lot of work and a lot of creativity. Which we were also talking about with the class and how creativity has been lost in the classroom. Our coaching staff is always thinking of new ways to teach and we are constantly evolving in how we teach the game of basketball. Now it does still bring a smile to my face and reaffirms what I am doing when a player tells me that a correction I told them makes sense and they get a steal and it clicks for them. Seeing the light bulb go off that they learned something is amazing. However, being able to work with the same kids for 4 years you are bound to see growth. I wonder how this would do in k-12 world. What if teachers had a group of kids for a lengthy amount of time how would that change the learning process and teaching process.

I really enjoy teaching and realize I have to be aware of how my students learn and change with them and for them. For this team to be successful all of us have to be on the same page and understand the material presented. They also have to learn and comprehend so that they can make adjustment on their own and go beyond the lesson. This is all necessary for them to be champions on and off the court.

Here is a little look into coaching;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JytwuqS-05E&feature=related

and here is our family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDyhiUvfsGU&feature=related

Think Outside the Race

From the perspective of someone in higher education I do try to learn as much as I can from my K-12 classmates and at time sometime I do feel like on of these children left behind that we are consistently discussing. In an effort to blend both the classes we are taking this quarter I thought that I would discuss the Race to the Top initiative that the Obama administration has put into play. Using technology however has helped me gather information and understand it a little better. Coming from college athletics I completely understand the competitive incentive, but have taken the time to try to understand how is that going to really benefit students in education. This is our assignment in our Wednesday class and to be honest when i read the assignment I felt a bit lost and was wondering how I would approach the topic. However, I don't want to get stuck only learning about higher education and challenge myself to learn something new. After reading articles on the web and from the department of education website i turned to my coworker and said, "i learned something new today". This is what I enjoy and does keep me motivated in my studies. It also helps me understand the state of education today. however, when I listen to the President and Arne Duncan I try to put myself in their shoes and wonder what it must be like from a leadership standpoint. For example, the President is trying to get across a fundamental value of educating our children, but making a decision that impacts so much more. Just the brainstorming that must be incorporated in coming up with rule, criteria, definitions, and qualifications to receive funds must take so much planning, compromises, and of course conflict. Also, to be a leader and announce this race and to receive all the criticism that comes along with it. It takes a type of strength to be a leader and in essence, "think outside the box" or try to make adjustment to programs like NCLB. Also an initiative with so much money at stake and so many states and now districts competing I wonder how it will turn out. I do think that at least this race is getting people to pay attention to the state of education now. With that said media has taken the time to capitalize off of this by coming out with  documentaries addressing education. Sticking with my first theme of TV I couldn't help but throw in my two cents about Oprah and Bill Gates discussing education on her show. I particularly like the part of the show where they interview Michelle Rhee the chancellor called in to change Washington D.C. school districts and how she discussed the topic of leadership. I look forward to learning more about Race To The Top and deciding which side I would be on.

For those of you who would like to contribute to the dialogue I would love to learn form my classmates as well and see where you stand, but also lead me into the right direction of where this Race is headed... or if like the title of the new film stands, is a "race to nowhere".

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/01/president-calls-to-expand-race-to-the-top.html

http://www.racetonowhere.com/

Coming to Slo October 22nd at the Palm Theatre

http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

If you missed Oprah and Bill Gates talking about education then check this out!

http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Waiting-For-Superman-The-Movie-That-Can-Transform-Americas-Schools_2

Think Outside the Closet

I know we are supposed to reflect on what we have discussed in class but I hope that this illuminates what I have learned so far from our past seessions. We are emotional creatures, conflict can be good, how we react to issues, and even how just the power of one voice can create change. I am also aware that this is a technology class and I want to keep that lesson in mind as well. What I was moved to speak on today was the recent suicides and deaths of gay students this past week. Not only is the LGBT community a taboo topic in many schools and universities but it takes an event like this to gain national attention. Who knows, even with these deaths the topic again may be swept back into the closet. As leaders we must be aware of the needs of our students and give them an outlet or someone that they can trust. The use of technology in the recent suicide also brings up the question of how can technology be monitored and elevates bullying to an entirely different level. How are we teaching this generation to use the power at their fingertips for good? How can we then use this technology to teach these lessons as well?

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/rutgers_student_tyler_clementi_4.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C85QQTXAtnY&feature=related

Here is also an example of how technology can help people through something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTVXEDTW9pY

Also, looking into conflict...how conflicted are you to even discuss a topic such as this in your classroom or the people that you work with. Thinking about the struggles of the LGBT community how do administrators deal with trying to handle the concerns of the students they interact with, but also feel the heat from outside forces or parents that may be against even talking about LGBT issues. How does our fight or flight mechanism play into a scenario like this?