Word of the Month

Dear Resume,

This month's word: Empathy. How does it feel when you win or lose, play well or drop the ball? Can you understand how others feel when they succeed or fail? Special session for the recess football league due to a few players that feel no one should be able to celebrate winning without an answering temper tantrum. hmm...

I made copies of these signs for all the teachers and put them up in various places around the campus.

Football Art

Dear Resume,

Recess Football is going well, but like the ubiquitous NFL I want to expand into all areas. Started a "Name the Teams" contest and a football helmet/uniform art exhibit. I go out for morning duty every morning* and so many of the younger grades wanted to play football (the recess league is 4th/5th only) I wanted to let them be involved. Received some creative designs so far:

*Yes, every morning. No, I don't have to. But I get kicked out of my office/boy's locker room since Middle School starts before Elem and my daily prep is fairly easy. Plus this way I have a captive audience for extra projects like this!

Recess Football

Dear Resume,

I know, I know, most teachers cringe at merely the thought of a football on campus. Kids get too competitive, argue and fight, trip and fall, someone loses a tooth.... But I see it as an opportunity to foster good sportsmanship (only team captains discuss differences, arguing means sitting out a week), learning to be a good teammate (I chose the teams, blending boys and girls, 4th and 5th graders, skill and maturity levels), and appreciation of the sport being played for fun. Most of our students have never played any organized sport, while a few of them come from a very competitive sport culture. I am emphasizing getting all team members involved, everyone runs the ball at least once, and creating/practicing plays on days there are no games.

The FFL, Friday Football League, get ready for a recess game