What Swimming is Teaching Me About Schooling
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Transcript of What Swimming is Teaching Me About Schooling
What Swimming Is Teaching Me
About Schooling
Chris Kennedy@chrkennedy
West Vancouver School DistrictNovember 19, 2014
Vancouver, BC
I love to watch my kids play sports – it is probably my favourite thing in the world
I played a lot of sports growing up – I wasn’t very good but I did love to compete.
For whatever reason – one sport that my kids have really got into is swimming
They are not going to the Olympics, but they will swim all summer
While I knew a lot about hockey and basketball – swimming and swim culture has been new to me.
Crap – this is good – I wish school was more like swimming
When kids are grouped – age and ability matter.
Reporting clearly separates skills and work habits
Parents are expected to lend their expertise but not be the coaches
Older kids are expected to work with younger kids
Kids work as individuals and as part of a team
There are at least 6 or 7 practices to every competition
Coaches share a practice plan in advance and then post it publicly
Coaches give constant feedback
When there are competitions most kids are obsessed with their own best times
Nobody talks about averages
Kids are ridiculously engaged.
Sports have a lot of challenges
Sports are trying to largely connect in new ways – just like schools
Whether in the classroom, gym, field or pool – hopefully we are all working to build some forever skills