The mindset of a Competitor: Your opponent is not your enemy. -Christopher Mance II
It was a regular basketball practice, starting just like any other. We warmed up, and soon after, we began running plays. That's when things started to go downhill. The coach told me I was in the wrong spot on one of the plays, and then I missed two shots in a row. To top it off, I missed a free throw, and the coach yelled, "You have to make those! Those are gimme shots, and we can’t afford for any post player not to make an unguarded shot."
I tried to gather myself during the practice, but it seemed like every time I turned around, I made another mistake. Everything I did felt like it was being scrutinized under a microscope. Minutes later, the coach told me I needed to get back faster on defense and threatened to make the team run extra if I didn’t pick up the pace.
I don't know what I brought into practice with me that day, but it felt like each mistake made the next one even worse. In my head, I kept telling myself I was horrible, embarrassing, and most likely the worst player he had coached.
Instead of Wasting Time: Disrupt The Negative Flow
In the game of education, negativity is a challenging opponent. Apathy, anxiety, negative self-talk, and frustration can seep into classrooms, hinder progress, and crush the spirits of both students and teachers. Just like in basketball, where a negative shift in momentum can alter the plans for a great game, negativity in education can disrupt learning and growth. This chapter looks at strategies for disrupting negativity, creating a positive and proactive classroom culture, and inspiring students to be a powerful force on the court of life.
Addressing and Overcoming Negativity in Education
Negativity can manifest in various forms. From self-doubt to uncertainty it’s crucial to recognize these forces and develop and put strategies in place to counteract them. In basketball, a team must respond to a tough opponent with well-coordinated defense and a strong offensive strategy. Similarly, educators benefit from helping themselves and their students with tools to disrupt the flow of negativity.
Consider the scene in the movie "Tomorrowland," where the characters are instructed to find people who haven’t given up. This powerful scene shows the importance of hope and perseverance. In the face of overwhelming negativity, it's essential to seek out and nurture those who still believe in the possibility of success. This mindset can transform the atmosphere in a classroom, turning it into a place where students feel empowered to push through challenges.
Creating a Positive and Proactive Classroom Culture
Building a positive classroom culture begins with the teacher. Your attitude, words, and actions set the tone for your students. As a basketball coach who motivates and instills confidence in their team, it is helpful to create an environment where positivity and proactive behavior are the norms.
Model and Recognize Positive Behavior: Your biggest competition is the little voice inside your head telling you that you can’t. Are the words you speak to yourself helping you or harming you? Demonstrate self-compassion and positive self-talk to students and colleagues by sharing stories of overcoming challenges. Highlight the importance of perseverance.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest achievements. This can be through verbal praise, a classroom reward system, or showcasing student work. Celebrating small wins helps build momentum and reinforces a growth mindset.
Encourage Collaboration: Foster a sense of community and teamwork. When students work together, they can lift each other and provide support during tough times. Group projects, peer mentoring, and collaborative learning activities can enhance this positive dynamic.
Inspiring Students to Be a Powerful Force on the Court
In basketball, players are trained to be proactive, to anticipate the opponent's moves, and to take control of the game. Similarly, students need to be empowered to take control of their learning and their mindset. Initially, the teacher can call out different defensive strategies. However, as the year progresses, students will ideally begin to take ownership of their thinking and learning and do these regularly.
Full-Court Press: A teacher can call “Full-Court Press” when, as in the game, it is noticed that students need a reminder to focus on mindfulness, focus, and being completely present. The full-court press does not leave room for negative thinking but requires supreme focus on a specific task. A full-court press in basketball involves constant pressure on the opponent, leaving them no room to be off task with negative thoughts or outside distractions.
Review Footage Before the Game: Just as players review game footage to see their strengths and areas for improvement, students should gather evidence of their successes. This could be through a portfolio of their best work, a list of achievements, or feedback from peers and teachers. Reviewing this evidence can boost their confidence and counteract self-doubt.
Zone Defense: A teacher can call “Zone Defense” when negative thinking or self-talk is observed. Often one negative thought attaches to another thought, and soon it can be out of hand. When students are taught to identify and challenge negative thoughts, real change is possible. When students catch themselves thinking, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to ask, “Is this true, and what if you could, but it took longer?” What evidence do I have that I can succeed?” It is important to attack negativity and self-doubt by sharing evidence that indicates they can do more than they think.
Blocking Shots: Just like blocking shots on the court, students can learn to block unhelpful thoughts. Sometimes blocking shots looks like setting boundaries with negative peers, noticing patterns where self-doubt or negative talk begins, avoiding toxic environments, or seeking out positive influences and role models.
Locker Room Conversation: After a game, a coach almost always breaks down the game with a perspective on what went well and what can be improved. While several strategies can be used to handle negativity, it is also important to touch base with students after the game. This could be done at the end of a class period, after a difficult unit or test, or during a particularly challenging time of the year. A “Check In” Google Form helps to differentiate how I reach students. It is a great way to make contact with each student when you have multiple classes.
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Timeout: March Madness Excitement
During March Madness, the excitement and energy levels are off the charts. Use this particular enthusiasm to inject some fun and motivation into your classroom. Take a timeout to discuss the parallels between the thrill of the tournament and the excitement of learning. It is exciting to play a few YouTube Clips from the tournament to show an underdog team winning. Upsets are always exciting. The key is to highlight how teams overcome setbacks, support each other, and celebrate every victory, no matter how small. This can be a powerful reminder that, like in basketball, every moment in the classroom counts and contributes to the overall success.
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The Power of Positive Language
Words have immense power. Teachers give students the gift of understanding how to handle feedback and speak to themselves. The language we use with ourselves and others can either uplift or bring ourselves or other people down. Encourage students to use positive language in their self-talk and interactions with peers. Remind them that they are capable, resilient, and valuable. Positive affirmations, gratitude exercises, and verbal encouragement can significantly impact their mindset.
AND One: Practical Takeaway
Activity: Positivity Game Plan
Objective: To create a practical strategy for disrupting negativity and fostering a positive classroom culture.
Materials Needed:
Index cards
Markers
Chart paper
Sticky notes
Instructions:
Identify Negativity: Have each student write down one negative thought on an index card. Collect these anonymously and discuss common themes.
Reframe Negativity: Divide students into small groups and give each group a few of the collected negative thoughts. Challenge them to reframe these thoughts into positive affirmations. For example, “I can’t do this” can become “I can improve with practice.”
Create a Positivity Wall: Use chart paper to create a Positivity Wall in the classroom. Have students write their reframed positive affirmations on sticky notes and place them on the wall. Encourage them to add to the wall whenever they have a positive thought or want to share words of encouragement.
Develop Personal Game Plans: Ask students to create a personal positivity game plan. This should include strategies they can use when they feel negativity creeping in, such as deep breathing exercises, positive self-talk, or seeking support from a friend.
About the Author:
With over 22 years of teaching experience, Laura McDonell is a dedicated high school English teacher and educational leader. Laura is passionate about inspiring students and educators through innovative strategies, engaging professional development, and transformative writing. In addition to her time in the classroom, Laura is also an avid reader, a mom of three, and a marathon runner.
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Instagram: lmcdonell2001