Ugghh...the mile run!

The students in my class have been participating in the Presidential Fitness testing the last few weeks. This week we took the kids to the track to run the mile. There are a wide variety of responses whenever we tell the kids, " we are running the track today". Some kids get excited and yell, "Alright", while others groan and say, "Ugghhh". Well it's my job as a coach (and the other coach I teach with), to get the kids motivated to run and do their best. I always remember the verse in the Bible that states...." I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!" I say a quick prayer as we are walking to the track asking God to help each child do their best and finish the run.

I believe the more we encourage kids and give them the opportunity to succeed, they will be successful as they grow older. There are numerous students in our school that need that encouragement on a daily basis. As I see those children, I give them a smile or a high five, because sometimes that's all it takes in order to get them going for the day! So just as finishing the mile is an important task, encouraging my own children and my students to do their best or telling them to have a good day with a smile on my face will go a long way, not only for the moment, but for years to come!

In the beginning

I am an elementary PE teacher, coach, dad and husband. I have blogged a few times, but thought I would venture out and start my own page of blogs. Most of my blogs will be about things that happen during my job as a teacher, coach, husband or dad, but mostly as a teacher and coach. There was a show....Kids say the Darndest things....and as a PE teacher and coach I would have to totally agree with this statement. I'm excited about blogging and I hope the things that I see, say and do will entertain, but also help people learn from my mistakes or gain insight in the good things I do. Kids are brutally honest, which can be good sometimes and bad the others. Let me give you and example of something that was said to me the other day. A fifth grade girl comes up to me and says....."Coach what is that on your face?" I told her it was a zit, she proceeded to say "That's disgusting and you need to do something about it." She concluded with, "I hope when I'm your age I don't get things like that on my face." Little does she know that the life of acne is quickly coming upon her. She will wake up one morning whenever she's in middle school or possibly a late bloomer and will see it when she gets in high school and will get all freaked out about it...most of us at that age probably did. But now and the "young" age of 39, zits don't bother me anymore. I know it's a part of life that sometimes is out of our control...they just "pop up". My point is...the girl was brutally honest! I laughed it off, but thought to myself....man I need to do something with these stories and see if I can give myself mental therapy by getting them off my chest or putting them in a blog so someone else can laugh or relate with me. Whichever the case....I'm excited in my new adventure in blogging!