If I were to pose the question to this audience about what images your mind conjures up when you think of starting a new school year, it is doubtful that the answer would be a stopwatch or a coach’s whistle; however, as a physical educator, these can be essential tools for managing the classroom environment. In addition to being useful instruments, when I ponder on significant memories of mentors and coaches in my life, I picture a stopwatch and a whistle. Whether it was opening Coach Rushing’s briefcase to retrieve the baseball scorebook and moving the stopwatch that usually rested on top, or being sent by Coach B or Lisa down the H-Hallway to retrieve a whistle from their desks, there is a natural connection for me between these tools and the leaders that use them.

Recognizing that technology on our smartphones has rendered these two devices unnecessary in the modern physical education class or athletic practice, I still like the symbolism of what these tools represent and how effectively they can be utilized to assist in managing a gymnasium full of 60 third graders. As student interns and I discuss the challenges of classroom management in a gymnasium bursting with student energy and flying frisbees, the benefits of a whistle over a voice becomes evident. So, each physical education intern at Union receives one of each along with a little poem.

Hope you BLOW them away
with how awesome a teacher you are,
& don’t forget to WATCH and learn as
much as you can from those around you!
 
Hope you have a great internship
experience!

With a timely posting from the School of Education on the topic “8 Proactive Classroom Management Tips,” my desire is to highlight the second tip on the list which states, “Establish, maintain, and restore relationships.” As effective as a whistle and stopwatch might be to a physical educator, creating relational equity with students, and even colleagues, can be a monumental proactive step to managing not only a class setting but to the professional life of an educator. Gratitude for those who follow their calling into education is enormous. Even more significant are those educators who step into leadership roles to coach, guide, and mentor emerging adults as they navigate the journey into investing into our children. Thank you to these mentors who pass on the many valuable lessons they’ve learned, choosing not to hoard their knowledge but to leave a legacy for young educators to follow.

Teaching and coaching in today’s world has a set of challenges that could not have been imagined 20 years ago, yet children and teens (and emerging adults) will always need these mentors to invest in them, believe in them, and guide them not only through developing skills but helping them flourish at life.

Please feel free to share special stories of teachers and coaches who have mentored you and ways they demonstrated their investment into relational equity with students and colleagues.