Time to Show Up!

I enjoyed my tenure as Head Coach of a high school track and field team.  We enjoyed a great deal of success if success is measured by championships, school records,  and state medals.  We worked from a backward approach with the end in mind.  Practices were planned from the state finals and worked back to the start of the training season in late Fall.  The ultimate goal was always prevalent.  Along the way, there were short-term goals.  Adjustments in practices were made according to the progress that the kids made.  These were the “informal” assessments.  The “formative” assessments were all of the meets before the state meet, which was the “summative” assessment.  In all of this, there were many “pep talks”, both as a group or individually.  What you learn over time is that during that last week of the “Big Test” (State Finals), there really isn’t much you can do to get the kids in better shape or increase their level of fitness.  At that point in the season, it is really all between their ears.  That’s where your best pep talk comes into play.  It’s time to show up!

Much like the training plan described above, you and  your students have done the same.  Now, we attack the final round of ISTEP.  Hopefully, you worked from a backward approach by first identifying what the essential learning was to be and then setting long-range goals.  “Practice sessions” were held throughout the year with the end goals in site.  Along the way, there were daily goals.  These goals were connected to the long-term goals.  Adjustments in the instructional plan were made dependent upon the progress of the students.  There were informal assessments multiple times and formative assessments to measure if kids were “on track”.  There were some pep talks to your students, both as a team and individually.  Parents were brought on to the team.  We have made videos, we have served them breakfast, we have done daily announcements, we have worn the t-shirt, we have created carrots.  At this point, it is all between their ears…literally.  This is where your best pep talk comes into play.  It’s time to show up!