I have taken my time in writing this post because I have really tried to think about an experience, or person, that has guided my life to this point. And sadly I cant think of one before my college experience.
Throughout my experiences in life I have come to the realization that I love the learn and get better at whatever "it" is. As an undergraduate I was fortunate enough to be a part of the mens soccer program with a coach who strived for professionalism and a hard work ethic. During my time with the team we were consistently challenged to be better than we were the day before because he wanted that way. He demanded it. This experience, I believe, tailored me to the person that I am today.
While training for the upcoming season, I met up with a teammate in July of 2001. We headed out to a vacant field to train together with nothing more than a few cones, 2 soccer balls, and the desire to be better. I recall the session lasting no more the sixty minutes and the two of us being completely exhausted. He looked at me and said "you should try to do this for a living". Even though I was already in the teaching program, that moment was the first time that I thought to myself, you know what? I can do this.
I love the "process". I love golf for the sole fact that I have been playing for 15 years and I still get better every year. I love cycling for the fact that 2 months into training, I can climb that same hill that beat me down the last time I tried it. I love to workout to shed that 1/10 lbs (ok thats a stretch, just trying to hammer home the point). I love evolving and thinking back to the beginning when I thought that I wouldn't be able to do it.
I love teaching because I learn each day and get better because of it.
The continuous striving to be better, the desire to be better, the need to be better shows in my classroom each and every day and I hope that my students grasp the same concept.
Within the world of education, I feel my beliefs are a round peg in a square hole. I do not believe that tests measure learning. As Father Sarducci said about memorization: "so that you can parrot it back for the tests". Much of what tests measure students have a hard time applying. Application is learning. Just last semester, I had a professor who believed this. His tests were some of the hardest that I have ever taken. And I was allowed a note card full of notes! I think if students learn to appreciate learning for learning sake, the required tests scores would rise dramatically. As long as the government has such a strong hold on requirements of education the only things students will learn is to pass tests. (I promise I posted this before I saw the cartoon on Prof. Backenheimer's blog)
It seems as though you are involved in all areas of sports and strive to become better each day. You obviously love what you do for a living and I am sure this shows and your students see this each day they come to school and have you for P.E.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a teacher/professor let anyone use a note card full of notes! What an interesting concept!
First, I'm glad you quoted Father Guido.
ReplyDeletePe is an interesting subject as the entire concept is demonstration of learning through application. In my career, I have seen very few PE teachers give tests. (I know one teacher who would give written quizzes on sports rules as a culmination to a unit, but that was one exception)
I think classroom teachers can learn a lot from this. For most careers, there is a test that one needs to take to gain access to a license. (i.e. Black Sela for custodian, EMT test, LSAT, GMAT, CPA exam, Nursing Boards, etc) yet no one ever asks these practitioners what their test score was. Instead, they want to know if they can do the job with a skill set.
I agree that teaching is a process and you do learn something new everyday. I think that is one of the things that I find so challenging about my job (Child Study Team). Each child I evaluate has different needs and each child I case manage is unique. It really keeps me on my toes, especially my town!!!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your views on tests. I believe that it is so much more important to teach students the skills that they need to succeed. Being able to spit back memorized information is not where the emphasis should be and is not a true measure of learning.
Our ideas about assessments is similar, Sean. I mentioned in another post that I maintained a straight-A average in high school by having a great memory, not from thinking about any sort of process. I think when teachers stop learning about ANYTHING, they fall back on repetition, stale lesson plans, and traditional techniques that never motivated students in the first place. I worked for a short time at a district that required Problem Based Learning activities for a portion of the students' grades, and these made a positive impact on student achievement and interest level.
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