October is a very tough month for both teachers/coaches and students. If you pace yourself, you can accomplish everything. Don't worry - everyone feels like they had the toughest workout of their life during the fourth term of school. The best piece of advice I have come up with is to not skip lunch - or breakfast. Many teachers do it; few can keep their eyes open when they return home. Remember to eat regularly during the day.
Most athletes are so competitive they want to beat everyone - even when it's inappropriate.
If you've ever tried to show up a teammate or sibling, you know what I mean.
You realize it's bad for "the team" to be competitive, but you can't help yourself.
You still want to outshine them.
This sometimes carries over into our classrooms and with our dealings with the learners on the sport field. In all conflict and arguments we want to win and so do the athletes we teach/coach, thus tensions rise. Both parties when arguing think “I’m better than you.” When challenged by learners we tend to react poorly. There is a better way. It's called thinking Win-Win.
We need to find a better way of handling challenges. We’d have to think Win-Win. We have to imagine a game in which both of us excel. We must think, how can both of us win in this current situation? The end result must be that we supported each other completely. Rivalry is not a problem. You as a teacher/coach must think...
“Good You want to challenge, you want to argue! You’re making me better!”
This is called a positive rivalry...you feel inspired, not threatened. If we learn these key decisions we can make it will assist us to becoming a teacher/coach. Then we can start to be a team that challenges conflict in the school as one with the same goal. It will fill you with confidence allowing you to win under pressure consistently in the classroom or on the field.
Recognize that anger is nothing more than an outward expression of hurt, fear and frustration.
Trust yourself to come out from behind your desk, clipboard or whistle and deal with what happens, and love them through it.
We are sometimes the only support these children have.
It's not about me!
- seafri
- Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Headmaster, Coach, Mentor and teacher. ”Sean L Friedenthal is a parent and a student counsellor for the past 25 years and has worked with kids from ages 7 to 18. He works as a teacher , sports coach and teen mentor. Experience: In his capacity as a teacher, Sean has counselled teens with some of the most difficult problems; from sexual abuse, to teen pregnancy, to drug addictions. He has also helped kids through the "normal" growing pains that come with being a teenager. Youngsters of all ages are invited to write and ask questions, discussion points or ‘just talk the talk’. From Sean Friedenthal: Being a teenager can be a confusing and trying time. It is also a time of great excitement, discovery, freedom and change. While you go through this important phase in your life, I hope you will be able to find comfort in words of wisdom that spur you into action, taking responsibility for your life.
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