What Sports Can Teach Us About Behavior Management

Sports. They seem to be getting less and less of a focus in the classroom in between this test and that. But sports are detrimental to developing youth who will grow into respectful adults. Here's why. Sports teach us many concepts such as: 

+ teamwork 
+ that it is OK to lose 
+ that it is OK to win 
+ that determination and hard work will get you to where you want to be 
+ collaboration is better than a competition 
+ a goal isn't always achieved in the same way we thought it would be achieved 
+ that sometimes we need some time out 
+ if you fall down, pick yourself right back up 

These concepts are seen in the classroom on a day-to-day basis. With fewer sports going on, kids are starting to become less team focused as a result. It's all individual testing opposed to group explorations like it used to be in the good old days. 

So what are we as teachers to do? A great way to incorporate sports attitudes in the classroom is to implement sports into your behavior management system. Encourage your students to see themselves as part of a bigger entity. You could do this by: 

+giving your students player of the day awards 
+talking to your students about what makes a good team player 
+taking some time to allow your students to research their favorite sports player and then to compare themselves using a Venn diagram 
+using sports as a metaphor in your day-to-day teaching 
+having a sports themed behavior clip chart 

If you have any more ideas on how you could incorporate sports then feel free to leave your idea below. 

Finding Yourself This Summer

The term 'finding yourself' is one often met with questionable stares. Who is this hippy and what do they want from my sanity? Although I may be 50% hippy (and rising) I'm not here to take your sanity, I'm here to help you find it. After a tough school year on your emotions, you are bound to need some inner love time. But where do you start? Here are three ideas to get you started.

Idea #1 - Declutter 

Physical clutter can be symbolic of emotional clutter that is burning in your heart. Maybe you took on too much with after school activities and suddenly your garage is more cluttered than it has ever been? Slowly things build up and clutter forms. It takes a focused effort of tackling the clutter with full force to break the cycle of clutter. Be careful though. If you want to declutter you will need to allow yourself plenty of time to do so. Because our physical environment is linked to our mental state going through our belongings can bring up all sorts of emotions. Maybe get a friend over to support you and you could help them too.

Idea #2 - Find a New Hobby 

Class is dismissed for the school year. Your mind and body are no longer required to be at school full time.  Embrace the freedom. What did you spend the whole school year wishing you had more time for? The time is now; so dig out those cookbooks, workout gear, or TV remote and go get em' tiger.

Idea #3 - Reflect on the Year That Was 

We do everything to try to get our students to think as reflective learners. "So what have we learned about maths today kiddos?" Yet when it comes to personal reflection we are often too consumed with the idea that we don't have time for that. Now that you can take a breather, it is a great time to think back to the school year that was and give yourself credit for achievements you made and think forward to how you can tackle things differently next time on other things.