Put Me In Coach!!!

Torture, defined by Gage (my 8 year old), is staying on the bench during the ending of the closest game of the season. He could hardly stand watching his team barely loose their only basketball game this year. I wouldn't really say he "sat" on the bench after fouling out...it looked more like he was dealing with ants in his pants as he attempted to keep off the court. His passion for the game paired with countless hours of practice to improve his skills gave him such an excitement to play! What he would have given for the coach to somehow turn around and say "get in there Gage!" My wish is that our RH students will feel the same excitement, pride and anxiousness to show off all they have learned when they take the STAAR this spring. More importantly, I pray that the same enthusiasm for learning continues their entire lives.

Just as teachers make all the difference in their student's years, coaches play an important role in their player's seasons. They have the ability to jump in, side by side with their players and help them improve their practice. Great coaches not only know how important it is to practice, but they make the most of it. Successful practices happen when coaches take time to learn what each player does well and praise them for that effort. Also, they focus on each individual's weaknesses, giving specific feedback and encouragement until they see growth to celebrate!  Practice doesn't make perfect, but practice does make progress. A coach knows how to prepare the team for the game and ensures that each team member is ready before throwing them out on a live court. Playing games over and over is not preparation for game...but lots of practice is. Assessing kids over and over is not preparation for a test or life-long learning...but lots of teaching and learning is. As teachers, it's our job to support our kids over and over through practice, without jumping right into assessment. In practice when we miss, foul, or throw the ball away, there is no penalty like in the game. Instead, these mistakes are followed by targeted advice and then "let's try it again!" to build stamina, skills and allow growth from mistakes. This strategy develops confident players who are prepared to play the game.  They aren't just equipped, but readily anxious to put their hours of sweaty, hard work to the "test". Fueled with the belief in their ability to learn, grow, even fail, they ultimately experience the pride of accomplishment from hard work paying off.  

Most importantly, a coach has the possibility to do much more than teach fundamental skills. An effective coach transforms their player's work ethic, beliefs, and goals, eventually affecting the rest of their lives.  Teachers have the equal opportunity to transform futures. In fact, I would bet that an overwhelming majority of coaches and teachers chose their career based on this very principle. This time of the year it is easy to forget that dream. It's easy to forgot the importance of practice, practice, practice. It's easy to forget to encourage, encourage, encourage. It's easy to slip into testing, testing, testing. It's easy to forget that there isn't only one right tool, one piece of proof, or one way to solve. It's easy to forget that STAAR is just a test. It's easy to forget that we are a part of molding small human beings. It's easy to forget that these little lives look to us to show them what life is about and how they should handle it. It's easy to forgot what's important.

As we are on the downhill slide of the year, let's remember to keep practicing and adjusting before we throw our players in the game! I am hopeful. Hopeful we will see our student's enthusiasm for learning shine through on the STAAR. Even more hopeful that we will remember why we do what we do. The MOST hopeful that we will influence the future by developing children that look at challenges in life and say "put me in coach, I'm ready to play!"