Our halls and gyms at the Western Cape Sport School, should have huge banners that read such as ‘superior performance’, ‘popular’, ‘challenger’,
‘competitor’, ‘family friendly’, ‘prestige’ and ‘true blue’ (i.e. unique Western Cape values and style).
In each case the nature of the competition, the status of the team or the form of the training we offer must deliver a distinct type of emotional association to the school brand, the relevance and value of which can only be judged in terms of each individual athlete’s particular opportunities and challenges that come their way.
Sport is a reflection of society and we must acknowledge that sport like many aspects of our society sometimes encompasses the worst of human traits, including violence, corruption, discrimination, cheating and even drug abuse.
Our role at the school should be to outweigh the negatives with loads of positives, fulfilling lives from excess loads of core values, the bridging of cultural or ethnic barriers, developing peace and tolerance. The athletes should willingly establish new friendships, enjoy discussions after matches with the opposition and always strive for participation in a sporting code for life. Sport is critical to a child’s healthy upbringing and we should assist them to focus on community wellbeing.
As staff we can all play our role, so go out there and cover your walls with saying s of inspiration and drive. Beautify your surroundings with excellence and sport quotes, uplift the area in which you work and just maybe we can uplift those who need us most.
Enjoy the newly laid lawn and flower bed, a small token of the beauty that lies within and without the walls of the Western Cape Sport School.
Enjoy the sunshine and the rain...
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Coach, Trainer or Teacher?
A Trainer is a person who educates others on specific topics of specific importance
A Coach is someone who offers advice, ideas and perspective when appropriate and in a way you can use them.
A Teacher is a person who provides formal education for others.
"Teaching is the art of assisting others with discovery." Teachers impart their knowledge and wisdom freely to help others develop and grow within them. Trainers focus on specific areas of development, soft skill and technical, to transfer best practices in action and thought process to others. Coaches observe others to understand their strengths and weaknesses then guide them down paths that will assist in developing or correcting those weaknesses. To be effective, especially in the area of adult learning, you must understand how and when to be all three.
I believe that to be truly effective, you need to be all three and because of this overlapping, there is no difference.
Many ways to define this. Just one option is:
a. teacher tells a group of people about certain knowledge,
b. trainer shares his knowledge while working with a group of people,
c. coach shares his knowledge while working with individual people, but also transfers skills, and provides (mental) support,
What they have in common is transferring knowledge. The difference is important when you have to deliver to a customer.
In most cases a trainer is responsible for delivering information - knowledge passes from the trainer to the trainee, and the trainer's success is measured by the trainee's ability to retain and repeat what they learned.
A teacher is similarly responsible for delivering information, however teachers are often more invested in the development of passion for their subject matter. The measure of a successful teacher is that his/her students are inspired to continue to pursue learning.
An effective coach works with clients to help them find tools and resources to answer their own questions and achieve their own goals. The measure of a successful coach is that their clients become increasingly self sufficient and self directed in the pursuit of their own goals.
A teacher teaches you what is fish(conceptual knowledge).
A trainer trains you how to fish(technical skills).
A coach motivates you to fish(empowerment).
A Coach is someone who offers advice, ideas and perspective when appropriate and in a way you can use them.
A Teacher is a person who provides formal education for others.
"Teaching is the art of assisting others with discovery." Teachers impart their knowledge and wisdom freely to help others develop and grow within them. Trainers focus on specific areas of development, soft skill and technical, to transfer best practices in action and thought process to others. Coaches observe others to understand their strengths and weaknesses then guide them down paths that will assist in developing or correcting those weaknesses. To be effective, especially in the area of adult learning, you must understand how and when to be all three.
I believe that to be truly effective, you need to be all three and because of this overlapping, there is no difference.
Many ways to define this. Just one option is:
a. teacher tells a group of people about certain knowledge,
b. trainer shares his knowledge while working with a group of people,
c. coach shares his knowledge while working with individual people, but also transfers skills, and provides (mental) support,
What they have in common is transferring knowledge. The difference is important when you have to deliver to a customer.
In most cases a trainer is responsible for delivering information - knowledge passes from the trainer to the trainee, and the trainer's success is measured by the trainee's ability to retain and repeat what they learned.
A teacher is similarly responsible for delivering information, however teachers are often more invested in the development of passion for their subject matter. The measure of a successful teacher is that his/her students are inspired to continue to pursue learning.
An effective coach works with clients to help them find tools and resources to answer their own questions and achieve their own goals. The measure of a successful coach is that their clients become increasingly self sufficient and self directed in the pursuit of their own goals.
A teacher teaches you what is fish(conceptual knowledge).
A trainer trains you how to fish(technical skills).
A coach motivates you to fish(empowerment).
Friday, March 18, 2011
No respect?
I've learned a secret about what's going on when someone is not giving you the respect, admiration you want. Let me explain...
Most of us are taught that when a relationship is struggling, we should be extra nice, thoughtful, and giving. However, they are usually not the key to getting respect and appreciation from people who are withholding it from you.
Sometimes, we irritate people in oblivious ways:
We wait around for moans instead of making plans;
We ask for direction on tasks when we're really seeking approval;
We talk and tell them about how miserable our work place is;
We socialize when people are trying to work;
We complain too often;
We check up on people and judge their choices;
We become bossy or controlling;
We complain about not being give responsibility; and,
We lay guilt trips on our colleagues should they disagree with our feelings.
When you lean psychologically or emotionally on people or
toward them, it makes others feel uncomfortable.
They resent the weight you are laying on them, and they will
react by denying you.
They don't like your self-indulgence, and your insecurity
reminds them of their own vulnerability; it rattles them.
Consciously and subliminally, they sense the weakness your
moaning creates.
Most of us are taught that when a relationship is struggling, we should be extra nice, thoughtful, and giving. However, they are usually not the key to getting respect and appreciation from people who are withholding it from you.
Sometimes, we irritate people in oblivious ways:
We wait around for moans instead of making plans;
We ask for direction on tasks when we're really seeking approval;
We talk and tell them about how miserable our work place is;
We socialize when people are trying to work;
We complain too often;
We check up on people and judge their choices;
We become bossy or controlling;
We complain about not being give responsibility; and,
We lay guilt trips on our colleagues should they disagree with our feelings.
When you lean psychologically or emotionally on people or
toward them, it makes others feel uncomfortable.
They resent the weight you are laying on them, and they will
react by denying you.
They don't like your self-indulgence, and your insecurity
reminds them of their own vulnerability; it rattles them.
Consciously and subliminally, they sense the weakness your
moaning creates.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Fear of losing
Most athletes fear losing above all else.
I can relate. At one point in my athletic career, I was so phobic about losing that my friends gave me a custom-made t-shirt as a gag.
It said, "Sometimes you just have to lose." I laughed and wore it around for a while.
But I only got the joke years later. That's when I realized my fear of losing was so extreme it was hurting me.
To get over your fear of losing, you need to learn how to handle loss in life. When Comedian Alan Alda was little, his dog died. He was distraught.
His Dad, trying to shield Alda from the loss, had the dog stuffed. Now Alda was doubly traumatized.
His dog was gone and his Dad didn't know how to comfort him. That's when Alda learned how to deal with bad change.
...by accepting loss.
He writes: "You can't hang onto something longer than its time. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is really advice to myself, a reminder to myself not to avoid change or uncertainty, but to go with it, to surf into change."
How about you? Is there a loss in your past you can't seem to get over? If so, you need to realize that loss is part of life.
You need to grieve every loss and move on. This is the reason so many athletes get too nervous and choke.
The loss you fear has already happened to you. And you think it will be same this time.
My friend, I can assure you this is not the case. You are different now.
You are wiser and stronger. Now don't misunderstand me.
I'm not saying losing is your goal or you should like it. That's ridiculous.
Every athlete and coach hates to lose.
I'm saying that losing happens. And there is no loss you can't handle - as long as you're prepared to accept yourself.
If you know me, you know I'm big on self-acceptance. In fact it's my top value in life.
Teach yourself how to accept yourself, warts and all. If you haven't learned this lesson yet, now is the time.
I can relate. At one point in my athletic career, I was so phobic about losing that my friends gave me a custom-made t-shirt as a gag.
It said, "Sometimes you just have to lose." I laughed and wore it around for a while.
But I only got the joke years later. That's when I realized my fear of losing was so extreme it was hurting me.
To get over your fear of losing, you need to learn how to handle loss in life. When Comedian Alan Alda was little, his dog died. He was distraught.
His Dad, trying to shield Alda from the loss, had the dog stuffed. Now Alda was doubly traumatized.
His dog was gone and his Dad didn't know how to comfort him. That's when Alda learned how to deal with bad change.
...by accepting loss.
He writes: "You can't hang onto something longer than its time. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is really advice to myself, a reminder to myself not to avoid change or uncertainty, but to go with it, to surf into change."
How about you? Is there a loss in your past you can't seem to get over? If so, you need to realize that loss is part of life.
You need to grieve every loss and move on. This is the reason so many athletes get too nervous and choke.
The loss you fear has already happened to you. And you think it will be same this time.
My friend, I can assure you this is not the case. You are different now.
You are wiser and stronger. Now don't misunderstand me.
I'm not saying losing is your goal or you should like it. That's ridiculous.
Every athlete and coach hates to lose.
I'm saying that losing happens. And there is no loss you can't handle - as long as you're prepared to accept yourself.
If you know me, you know I'm big on self-acceptance. In fact it's my top value in life.
Teach yourself how to accept yourself, warts and all. If you haven't learned this lesson yet, now is the time.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Smile!
Hopefully your school year is flying by. That means you are having fun. If your school year seems have come to a halt, just keep smiling. Research does show us that smiling relieves stress, so you might want to try it. Just remember the old saying: "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile!" In fact it takes 41 muscles to frown and 17 to smile. Judy T., a teacher from Carol's building, uses this fact to her advantage. If Judy is having a bad day and someone tells her she is frowning, she always says, "I'm trying to use more muscles, so I can burn more calories! That way I enjoy my desert with less guilt!" She always makes us chuckle.
Teachers: “A role model is a person whose behaviour is imitated by others.”
We all hope that learners have good, strong role models who possess the kind of qualities that make our students want to be better people. While there is some variation in every teacher’s definition of what it means to be a good person, I believe the following characteristics should remain constant.
Little eyes are watching and little ears are listening. Talk about your experiences to the learners. Someday, they will be in the same predicament and think to themselves, “What did Miss or Mr X do or say when s/he was in the same situation?”
When you have a tough choice to make, allow the learners to see how you work through the problem, show which decision is best, but also how they can to come to that conclusion.
Nobody’s perfect. When you make a bad choice, let those who are watching and learning from you know that you made a mistake and how you plan to correct it. This will help them to understand that everyone makes mistakes; it’s not the end of the world; you can make it right; and you should take responsibility for it as soon as possible.
We all want children to stick with their commitments and follow through with their promises. However, as adults, we get busy, distracted, and sometimes, a bit lazy. That means be on time, finish what you started, don’t quit, keep your word and don’t back off when things get challenging.
While it may seem like a great deal of pressure to be a positive role model; nobody is expecting you to be superhuman. We certainly wouldn’t expect that behaviour from the children who are looking to us for answers and guidance—nor would we want them to expect that kind of flawless behaviour from themselves or others. You can only do your best. And, if you mess up today, you can always try again tomorrow.
Here’s to a great Weekend!
Little eyes are watching and little ears are listening. Talk about your experiences to the learners. Someday, they will be in the same predicament and think to themselves, “What did Miss or Mr X do or say when s/he was in the same situation?”
When you have a tough choice to make, allow the learners to see how you work through the problem, show which decision is best, but also how they can to come to that conclusion.
Nobody’s perfect. When you make a bad choice, let those who are watching and learning from you know that you made a mistake and how you plan to correct it. This will help them to understand that everyone makes mistakes; it’s not the end of the world; you can make it right; and you should take responsibility for it as soon as possible.
We all want children to stick with their commitments and follow through with their promises. However, as adults, we get busy, distracted, and sometimes, a bit lazy. That means be on time, finish what you started, don’t quit, keep your word and don’t back off when things get challenging.
While it may seem like a great deal of pressure to be a positive role model; nobody is expecting you to be superhuman. We certainly wouldn’t expect that behaviour from the children who are looking to us for answers and guidance—nor would we want them to expect that kind of flawless behaviour from themselves or others. You can only do your best. And, if you mess up today, you can always try again tomorrow.
Here’s to a great Weekend!
Building a school’s character
A school needs to create a character or ethos of its own in order for the learners to identify with the school. These characteristics should be positive and inclusive for growth and traditions of excellence to be established.
Lovedale (1824) in the Eastern Cape was a non-racial school which started with 11 black and 9 white children. It was a training institution where book learning and practical application (apprenticeship) went hand in hand. The first Xhosa dictionary was compiled at Lovedale.
It was also a school in which values were promoted and where women were educated as early as 1869. Music was an important part of the curriculum. Lovedale was destroyed in 1954 and is now derelict.
Healdtown (1854) was developed by Methodist Missionaries. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century it was also a centre of learning excellence. Its list of alumni is impressive and includes former president Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki (President Mbeki’s father) and Robert Sobukwe (the founder of the PAC). It is now derelict.
These examples show how tender the life of a school of excellence can be. The powerful people who came from these buildings went on to influence the world, who knows who we have attending classes at the Western Cape Sport School?
Think about the Western Cape Sport School, and its history, purpose and the future in relation to excellence in education. A teacher’s purpose is to manage and foster good traditions. A final question is “How do we water our seeds so that they grow into strong and powerful leaders?”
Let’s see what we as a staff can grow together.
Lovedale (1824) in the Eastern Cape was a non-racial school which started with 11 black and 9 white children. It was a training institution where book learning and practical application (apprenticeship) went hand in hand. The first Xhosa dictionary was compiled at Lovedale.
It was also a school in which values were promoted and where women were educated as early as 1869. Music was an important part of the curriculum. Lovedale was destroyed in 1954 and is now derelict.
Healdtown (1854) was developed by Methodist Missionaries. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century it was also a centre of learning excellence. Its list of alumni is impressive and includes former president Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki (President Mbeki’s father) and Robert Sobukwe (the founder of the PAC). It is now derelict.
These examples show how tender the life of a school of excellence can be. The powerful people who came from these buildings went on to influence the world, who knows who we have attending classes at the Western Cape Sport School?
Think about the Western Cape Sport School, and its history, purpose and the future in relation to excellence in education. A teacher’s purpose is to manage and foster good traditions. A final question is “How do we water our seeds so that they grow into strong and powerful leaders?”
Let’s see what we as a staff can grow together.
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