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What isn’t going to change? A reflection on successful, innovative coaching
This week, James Clear posted a short story about Jeff Bezos in his newsletter. “I very frequently get the question: ‘What’s going to change in the next 10 years?’ And that is a very interesting question; it’s a very common … Continue reading What isn’t going to change? A reflection on successful, innovative coaching
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An Unexpected Gift
20 years ago… I received an unexpected gift from a teacher. I could never fully repay her, but this week I realized I could provide at least a small repayment to let her know how meaningful that gift was. I … Continue reading An Unexpected Gift
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Should we treat kids like adults?
Kids want to be treated like adults. I think this is a fact. We can all remember in our childhood wanting to be treated like adults. Whether it was more responsibility, dreaming about our future, being in charge on the … Continue reading Should we treat kids like adults?
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Teaching like Questlove
Quest Love is my favorite drummer. Truthfully, I don’t know a lot about drummers, and I don’t really love his drumming. I don’t even know enough about drumming to love anyone’s drumming. I do like The Roots and I love watching … Continue reading Teaching like Questlove
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Measuring Coaching Success (Part 6): Final Thoughts
At the beginning of each season, our team sets goals together; some have to do with winning – games, conference, playoffs – while others are more abstract – great team chemistry, mastering team defense. The truth is that goals like … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 6): Final Thoughts
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Measuring Coaching Success (Part 5): Me, Myself and I
So I saved the hardest for last. Probably because it’s hardest. Maybe because I needed a lot of time to think it through. As you’ve seen from the previous posts, I have obviously questioned whether our team under achieved this … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 5): Me, Myself and I
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Measuring Coaching Success (Part 3): Getting better or getting worse?
Measuring Coaching Success (Part 1): Reflections on a season past Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers Prior to the season, I listened to John Wooden’s biographer talk about his pyramid and how he measured his team by effort … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 3): Getting better or getting worse?
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Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers
Read Part 1: Reflections on a season past My high school football coach used to tell us that high school sports weren’t meant to be fun, they were meant to be rewarding. I’ve never fully subscribe to this belief, but … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers
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The emotional balance of coaching
While being an assistant head of lower school is my main job, my role as high school coach can become difficult to put to the side at times. We are nearing the end of our basketball season, and this has … Continue reading The emotional balance of coaching
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Ten (or Eleven) books that tell the story of my reading life
As the year closes out and Top Ten lists pop up everywhere, I thought I’d get in on the game, but take a different route. Recently, my friend Danny Bauer shared the first book he remembered reading as a kid … Continue reading Ten (or Eleven) books that tell the story of my reading life
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Wandering Thoughts
After a day of professional development with my colleagues, we sat in Meeting For Worship to end our day, and as usual, what started as a few random thoughts led to some meaningful reflection. First was a zombie apocalypse. Not … Continue reading Wandering Thoughts
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The Art of Teaching
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou (or possibly someone else) If there ever was a quote that represented teaching young … Continue reading The Art of Teaching
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Put the politics and burning shoes aside, an important message is getting lost
So, for now, while shoes burn and talking heads discuss the economics of Nike’s ad, I’ll let my son watch these images as many times as he can, and I will believe in the potential power of those words. Continue reading Put the politics and burning shoes aside, an important message is getting lost
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Who am I being? How many eyes are shining around me?
Why can’t 100% of people be excited about education. Who am I being, how do I talk, how do I walk, if I believe that 100% of people love the power of learning, they just don’t know it yet. Continue reading Who am I being? How many eyes are shining around me?
I am human: practicing empathy
Each school year, I visit each classroom to introduce, or reintroduce myself to every student. As an administrator, I rarely miss the classroom, but I do miss the personal bond you develop spending 5-7 hours a day with a child. … Continue reading I am human: practicing empathy
Patient Learners – A Tale of Two Kids
This is a reflection on two weekends, two kids, and the importance of context. It is a reminder for me that being a patient learner is critical to success as a parent, teacher, and student. The Soccer Tournament and … Continue reading Patient Learners – A Tale of Two Kids
A reflection on failure and success: Preparing for the school year
Eight months ago, I wrote a list. Today, I found and reread it, feeling as if it it was lightyears away. As summer winds down, and I finish my preparation for the new school year, I feel lucky to have … Continue reading A reflection on failure and success: Preparing for the school year
Basketball IQ and How not to be stupid
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been coaching our JV summer league team, a group of mostly rising freshmen whom I am just getting to know as basketball players. Earlier this season, I read an article about How not to … Continue reading Basketball IQ and How not to be stupid
What can you learn from a schedule?
What do you see when you look at this image? I honestly don’t know how other schools do their scheduling each summer, but this is actually the result of the work at the tail end of a three-day scheduling binge … Continue reading What can you learn from a schedule?
Top 10 reasons I love reading aloud with my son
I get to spend time with my kid and he enjoys it. I get to make up silly voices and no one makes fun of me for it. We have been reading the Harry Potter series and we’re about to … Continue reading Top 10 reasons I love reading aloud with my son
World Cup 2019 – A win for US Soccer in more ways than one
Today, my family sat down to watch the 2019 World Cup Final between USA and Netherlands. Everyone knew before the game that our team was awesome, and most expected them to win. To be honest, the only surprising thing about their performance was the fact that they didn’t put two or three more goals on the scoreboard. My true surprise was what I learned about the greater value of this team, beyond the win on the field. For the past four years, my 8 year-old son has become a die hard soccer player and fan. He has spent hours practicing outside … Continue reading World Cup 2019 – A win for US Soccer in more ways than one
