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What do you think about winners and losers?

Posted By: Mike Rucker on Sun, Feb 14, 2010 1:18 PM| Views: 1010
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Description

I would like to have an opinion from you guys who teach pe on a daily basis reguarding this subject. I know that there are 2 basic schools of thought on it and I will reserve my opinion for afterwards.

Comments (11) Comment RSS

Shann Griffith wrote: on Feb 15, 2010 02:15 AM
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Melanie Lawrence wrote: on Feb 16, 2010 04:55 PM
I have a similar experience at the MS level.  I focus a lot on skill and play some lead up games.  The phrase I use when asked what the score is "Fun to Fun".  This makes them realize the importance of enjoying whatever physical activity they are doing and try their best while making it fun.  For the more competitive athletes I challenge them to better their own scores from the beginning of unit to the end on a specific skill or give them a choice challenge during a class.
Steve Burns wrote: on Feb 23, 2010 02:31 PM
"What's Your Hurry?!"  At the elementary level, most kids will have just as much fun playing a "competitive" game without keeping score.  If they ask me who won, my standard reply is, "The pink team." 
Nick Zayas wrote: on Feb 23, 2010 03:41 PM
When we play a competitve game, I will yell out the score and both teams have to clap. No over cheering. No one hangs their head.  I do this with my younger students so that they can learn how to win and lose without being sore winners or losers.  As the students get older, I stop keeping score.   
Tommy wrote: on Feb 25, 2010 11:03 PM
good stuff Shann! i'm basically the same way. when we're playing games in class or recess, i generally try to keep the atmosphere positive and focused on skills and fun. i also do lots of personal challenges, in which there is a clear cut winner and non-winner of the contest- things such as round-robin arm-wrestling tournaments at recess when we're stuck inside. I use ideas from Pangrazi as far as cooperative partner challenges and other challenges that have partners "competing" to win the activity...like leg wrestling for example. I model a certain attitude about winning and losing and my kids generally follow suit. Whenever there is a dispute or a situation revolving around winning or losing, I defuse the debate however I see fit. Can't ignore the winning-losing aspect of the world they will soon experience more of...nor should we make our entire focus about it. As with many things in this world and in our field.. got to find that balance and try to maintain it.
Mark Housel wrote: on Mar 04, 2010 06:37 PM
I think kids are very confused about winning and losing b/c adults send extremely mixxed messages about competition.  Kids go very quickly from not being "out" in baseball or keeping score in soccer to extremely competitive situations.  Parents tell kids that games are just for fun...ever been to a youth championship game of any sport?  If the games are just for fun then why do some adults act the way they do?  If you ask your students is it OK to want to win...some may look at you as if you asked a trick question.  They are not sure how to answer.  I LOVE the $5 bill example -people win and people lose.  That's the way life is.  I try to teach my students and kids that is OK to want to win and OK to be disappointed if you lose.  I ask questions like, if you lose is it the end of the game or the end of the world.  I also talk to them about winning at all costs - Do we really want to sacrifice our integrity for the sake of winning - Do we want to jepordize friendships, cheat, or be disrespectful to win?  Having kids meeting my expectations in a physically, emotionally, and socially safe environment is a great place to teach them about competition.   Adults try so hard to sheild our kids from failure that they are not sure what to do if they don't succeed evertime.  I try to have a balance of competitive and cooperative activities in my program.
Jay Gustafson wrote: on Apr 14, 2010 06:27 PM
I very rarely keep score.  If I happen to (once in a blue moon) though I basically tell them the same thing. "You won if you had fun". I am not against occasionally keeping score though.  Kids need to know how to lose..just like they need to learn how to win.  Lose with out making excuses and win without bragging. It's up to us to teach that skill.  Many pro athletes are the worst when it come to "postitive examples" of this.
Betty McNeil wrote: on Apr 16, 2010 03:49 PM
Before I give the score I ask the question...."Did you have fun?"  Then when the scores are announced I say "Now that you know the score, did the amount of fun you had change"?  After the confused look on their faces, we talk about it.
Tom wrote: on May 20, 2010 06:42 PM
"Winners and non-winners" are parts of my learning tasks.  The non-winners pair up with individual winners and discuss the stratgey used for the winning team to be so successful.  We then reorganize teams and replay activity.  The focus is on how one can imporve the performance the next time, not so much of the actual score.  They are elementary students, not million dollar athletes. TB
Timothy Best wrote: on Aug 20, 2010 08:16 PM
I have two signs on each end of the gym. One says "I did it" and one says "Try again". I also use first, second place or nice work, you're almost there, etc.

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