George Allen is one of the NFL's coaching legends. We have spoke previously of him and his thoughts on motivation. Today will talk about some of his concepts in regard to teaching that we took from his book, "Strategies for Winning."Four-point definition of being a good boss:
1. Be a serious listener. If you expect your thoughts to be take seriously, you must listen carefully.
2. Believe in people enthusiastically.
3. Work hard. I like people who work hard.
4. Enjoy your work. A good boss must teach others how to win. Only those who have not won will accept losing.
The book is chalked full of lists that he believed important to various areas of coaching. One that bears mentioning is his one on teaching.
I have a list of ten characteristics I find in the best teachers:
1. Start on time
2. Have an enthusiastic approach
3. Have a business like manner
4. Have a sense of humor
5. Use quick, efficient movements
6. Use charts, visual aids, films
7. Keep a clean blackboard
8. Have handwriting I can read
9. Ask students to answer a few questions to keep everyone alert.
10. Announce at the conclusion of the class when the next session will be and what chapters will be covered.
More thoughts by Allen on teaching:
“The undisciplined student has two problems: he knows what he is against, but sometimes he is uncertain what he favors.”
“Most teachers, supervisors, and students regard him as a troublemaker, but he doesn’t usually see himself that way. This is important for the teacher or coach to remember in trying to help. A disobedient student rarely sees himself as others do. As a result, this behavior can go on for years and the student gets progressively worse because no one knows how to deal with him.”
“What I think every teacher and coach needs to do when counseling an individual of this type, one who is so clearly withdrawn, is to establish what he wants, what he rejects, and then, most importantly, what you expect from him. My rule was not to criticize. I learned the hard way that this was a waste of time. Talk to this individual in private.”
“The key to handling this student is to let him know that you want him to be recognized for what he believes and not for what he is against.”
1. Start on time
2. Have an enthusiastic approach
3. Have a business like manner
4. Have a sense of humor
5. Use quick, efficient movements
6. Use charts, visual aids, films
7. Keep a clean blackboard
8. Have handwriting I can read
9. Ask students to answer a few questions to keep everyone alert.
10. Announce at the conclusion of the class when the next session will be and what chapters will be covered.
More thoughts by Allen on teaching:
“The undisciplined student has two problems: he knows what he is against, but sometimes he is uncertain what he favors.”
“Most teachers, supervisors, and students regard him as a troublemaker, but he doesn’t usually see himself that way. This is important for the teacher or coach to remember in trying to help. A disobedient student rarely sees himself as others do. As a result, this behavior can go on for years and the student gets progressively worse because no one knows how to deal with him.”
“What I think every teacher and coach needs to do when counseling an individual of this type, one who is so clearly withdrawn, is to establish what he wants, what he rejects, and then, most importantly, what you expect from him. My rule was not to criticize. I learned the hard way that this was a waste of time. Talk to this individual in private.”
“The key to handling this student is to let him know that you want him to be recognized for what he believes and not for what he is against.”
