I am a Champion: Get Fired Up for Teaching and Learning
ROAR!!!!! Who’s ready to wrestle a grizzly bear after watching this video clip? Perhaps not coincidentally, the high school football team that listened to this pre-game speech won their game. That’s right, they won a high school football game. Is it surprising to learn that such an impassioned speech was presented before a game between some high school students? Not really. We are accustomed to the stories about legendary motivators and coaches like Bo Schembechler, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, the list goes on and on.
Change the scene and now picture a classroom full of Kindergarten students. They are about to learn about the value of a nickel. Arguably, what these Kindergarten students will learn in their lesson about nickels will become part of their fundamental knowledge base. A critical skill set that the students will likely access on a daily basis for the rest of their lives. Sound important?
You bet it is. Do you think anyone bothered to fire up the students for this learning experience? Do you think anyone bothered to fire up the teacher who is about to teach this important lesson? Can you picture the teacher in front of his or her class making a speech like the football coach in the video? Can you picture the School Leader in front of his or her staff making such a speech? Not really. In fact, some might think it would be ridiculous for an educator to “rally their troops” in this manner. Why?
We, as educators, have an important job. Personally, I think it’s the most important job there is. We teach. Our students have an important responsibility as well. They learn. Let’s get excited about that. Let’s GET FIRED UP about these amazing opportunities we have everyday to make a positive impact on the lives of our students. Let’s take the initiative to get our students excited about the incredible concepts they have an opportunity to learn about every day in our schools. We are building foundations for happy and successful lives. Amazing achievements happen everyday in our schools. Let your passion rise to the surface and show your students how much their development means to you.
Doug Lemov tells us to Teach Like a Champion! Let’s do it! Let’s teach our students how to learn like Champions! School Leaders…How do you motivate your staff? Who are you? Are you a Champion for the community that you serve? Share your success and give other School Leaders ideas to build on. Teachers…how do you motivate your students? Who are you? Are you a Champion for your children? Share your ideas with your colleagues and be each other’s best resource. Who are you? You are a Champion! You make a difference in the lives of children every day.
We are the champions — my friends — And we’ll keep on fighting — till the end -
We are the champions — We are the champions
No time for losers — ‘Cause we are the champions — of the world!
– Queen