Basking in the triumphs of another thrilling Summer Olympics, we pause to consider some lessons from champions that easily relate to education.
- Goal setting—Elite athletes set short-term and long-term goals for achievement as they adapt their training for their objectives. Some students come to class expecting to be “infused” with the learning. Instead, they should learn how to determine needed adjustments to their time and concentration while considering factors such as prior knowledge, lesson length, complexity, and due dates for homework and projects. Teachers can, and should, help with this.
- Focus & Self-discipline—Successful athletes develop a steadfast focus on their goals. Students should not let peripheral issues, such as social media, dating, dislike of subject, and minor disputes deter them from their #1 job in life right now: learning their lessons.
- Practice—Champion athletes practice, practice, and practice even more. Then they build on what they accomplished with a new set of goals. Some students need more practice than others to approach mastery of the required content; they need to learn how to adapt their own individual practice sessions for time and number.
- Teamwork—Winning athletes often have a team of coaches or are part of a team that requires cooperation and support of each other. Students should maintain a considerate attitude toward teachers and fellow students to improve individual and group learning. Trite but true: You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
- Learning from mistakes—Elite athletes often have a coach to advise them. Students should learn not to be shy about using access to their teachers to ask for help with mistakes or lack of understanding of content they need to learn. It goes without saying that teachers should always be helpful, even in the face of repeated questions.
- Perseverance—Successful athletes carry on in spite of injuries, losses, or other setbacks. They learn not only from success, but also from failure. According to Olympic champion Mark Spitz, they learn patience and resilience. Students need to maintain an optimistic attitude to overcome difficulties they encounter; sometimes this requires asking for appropriate help again and again.
- Maintaining mental and physical health—Top athletes develop strategies to withstand intense pressure on their bodies and their minds–Simone Biles, for example, withdrew from the 2021 Olympic Games for her mental health. Students should seek adult guidance to fashion plans for schedules and procedures to release themselves from possible physical and mental stress ahead of time.
Teachers can be a top source for helping students become successful learners with these proven strategies from champion athletes. Four-time Super Bowl coach Chuck Noll always thought of himself as a teacher first. He said his own motivation came from helping someone “get the job done.”
For another view of a coach’s role, see Reading Spotlight’s previous post:
Go, team!
If you are interested in unique Grammar Review Worksheets for grades 7-12 with sports content, you might consider:
History of Sports Grammar Review
The Summer Games Grammar Stories
All Sports Reading Comprehension Activity
They are all available in the Reading Spotlight Store
© Reading Spotlight 2024
Here are some other interesting posts about education from y friends at TBOTEMC: