I am doing my Neuroscience blog on Dr. John Ratey M.D.. He is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He has for many years been researching and developing physical activity and it's toll on the brain. He calls it "excernomics" stating that when we are phyically fit and happy, that cognitively and emotionally we are feeling happy as well. He believes that during the hard times (the economic situation we are in now) we need to be at our peak physically. When you are there, your body and mind don't stress as much.
He talks about education in schools and how students most likely go home and play video games and surf the web than exercise. He believes that games like Wii Fit and Dance Dance Revolution are a step in the right direction. He feels that Physical Education in schools needs to change. He feels there should be more P.E. but the concept should change from a sports-coaching model to a fitness-wellness everyday athlete model. I personally believe in this method. Although in high school I loved my P.E. classes, I believe I would have benefitted much more from a fitness-wellness stand point in the long run than just playing sports everyday.
Being a baseball coach has allowed me to try some things that kind of fall into what Dr. Ratey's philosophy. I love the idea of my players getting better through time, with everything we do. If they don't get better, then I haven't done my job. One idea I have is doing a physical fitness day at the beginning of the term/semester that consists of physical strength activities and endurance activities. Their homework and final test will be the same thing, but will be graded on improvement. I would also want to see a goal for each student. If they don't reach their goal it doesn't matter, my main grade would be on effort.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Motivation Blog #1
- I am at UVU to better my life, and the lives of my family with a good education. I am in the teaching program because it is where I feel I need to be. I have tried many things, but teaching is the one thing that has made me happy doing. I have a firm belief that an individual should love what they are doing, and I feel that I will love being a teacher. I am in this class because it is a necessary class for any individual who wants to teach and become a great teacher. Understanding the students is a huge role in being a great teacher.
- When I coach, and I help a player become a better player, you can see on their faces and in their body language that they are excited, that they feel they can't be stopped. As a coach, what motivates me is having the player come to me and thanking me for helping them. Not only do I feel like I made them better, but I also feel that a bond can be made where we trust each other, and that individual can come to me with anything. It makes me feel like I am an important person to them. That feeling is one of the best I have ever felt. Another motivation I have is I love challenges. I love the idea of taking an individual who may not have a good background and helping them try and become something better than they could have imagined.
- The reason I will succeed is because I will work hard everyday to be the best teacher I can be. At the beginning I am sure there will be some days I fail as a teacher, but I believe that failure is a lesson, and it is good to fail sometimes because it humbles an individual and makes them a better person (if handled the right way of course). Every time I lose or fail, I will try to improve on what I felt I did wrong the next time I teach or coach. I believe people fail, because of lack of experience, lack of motivation, lack of confidence, poor planning, and so on. People succeed because of great planning, strong confidence, and they have the motivation to succeed.
- The course contract is definitely performance based. This is because if you don't do something, you won't get credit for it. I feel this matches with me well, because I am a student who does all the homework, and works hard in the classroom.
- To become a great teacher for me is learning to become not only the students teacher, but also a student to their needs. I feel I must be a good listener, and also be a knowledgeable instructor, who can help the students with their needs. I believe my motivation is there, now it is just learning and training in the steps it takes to be a great teacher. I also am excited because in order to be a great teacher, I have to learn from great teachers, and I feel I have that with my teachers this semester.
- When I coach, and I help a player become a better player, you can see on their faces and in their body language that they are excited, that they feel they can't be stopped. As a coach, what motivates me is having the player come to me and thanking me for helping them. Not only do I feel like I made them better, but I also feel that a bond can be made where we trust each other, and that individual can come to me with anything. It makes me feel like I am an important person to them. That feeling is one of the best I have ever felt. Another motivation I have is I love challenges. I love the idea of taking an individual who may not have a good background and helping them try and become something better than they could have imagined.
- The reason I will succeed is because I will work hard everyday to be the best teacher I can be. At the beginning I am sure there will be some days I fail as a teacher, but I believe that failure is a lesson, and it is good to fail sometimes because it humbles an individual and makes them a better person (if handled the right way of course). Every time I lose or fail, I will try to improve on what I felt I did wrong the next time I teach or coach. I believe people fail, because of lack of experience, lack of motivation, lack of confidence, poor planning, and so on. People succeed because of great planning, strong confidence, and they have the motivation to succeed.
- The course contract is definitely performance based. This is because if you don't do something, you won't get credit for it. I feel this matches with me well, because I am a student who does all the homework, and works hard in the classroom.
- To become a great teacher for me is learning to become not only the students teacher, but also a student to their needs. I feel I must be a good listener, and also be a knowledgeable instructor, who can help the students with their needs. I believe my motivation is there, now it is just learning and training in the steps it takes to be a great teacher. I also am excited because in order to be a great teacher, I have to learn from great teachers, and I feel I have that with my teachers this semester.
My First Assignment
1.
- One goal I have is better understanding of how my students will think, and react to certain situations.
- Another goal I have is getting a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful teacher.
2.
- I am going to start using google calender or a weekly planner to help me set a schedule for myself throughout the week of times, when I will be able to do school work, coach baseball, and set activities for myself. I think having a nice balance will help me keep a level head and on top of everything. To be honest I haven't gotten in a rythm with my classes, homework, and baseball yet, but I think next week I will have a game plan for each day. my first priority is making sure my work in the class is completed and in on time.
3.
-One strategy I will use is (and how I have gotten through school so far) going to all classes, doing all the homework, and making sure it is right. I plan on accomplishing these things by going to every class possible, and if I don't understand a question, then I'll ask.
- Another is making sure I get enough sleep and rest. I have struggled with this in the past, but I definitely notice how much more aware and attentive I am when I feel rested.
4.
-My process is simple... If I don't understand something, I should just ask. I feel that there is no bad question, only clarifications. If it is a question I have outside of class, then I will refer to my book, or email/text dr. Cox.
5.
- I will reach my goals in this course by going to class everyday, staying on top of my work, and taking in everything I hear and try to apply it to my teaching future teaching style.
- One goal I have is better understanding of how my students will think, and react to certain situations.
- Another goal I have is getting a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful teacher.
2.
- I am going to start using google calender or a weekly planner to help me set a schedule for myself throughout the week of times, when I will be able to do school work, coach baseball, and set activities for myself. I think having a nice balance will help me keep a level head and on top of everything. To be honest I haven't gotten in a rythm with my classes, homework, and baseball yet, but I think next week I will have a game plan for each day. my first priority is making sure my work in the class is completed and in on time.
3.
-One strategy I will use is (and how I have gotten through school so far) going to all classes, doing all the homework, and making sure it is right. I plan on accomplishing these things by going to every class possible, and if I don't understand a question, then I'll ask.
- Another is making sure I get enough sleep and rest. I have struggled with this in the past, but I definitely notice how much more aware and attentive I am when I feel rested.
4.
-My process is simple... If I don't understand something, I should just ask. I feel that there is no bad question, only clarifications. If it is a question I have outside of class, then I will refer to my book, or email/text dr. Cox.
5.
- I will reach my goals in this course by going to class everyday, staying on top of my work, and taking in everything I hear and try to apply it to my teaching future teaching style.
Friday, January 8, 2010
About Me
My name is Matt Bezzant. I am currently working on getting certified to become a teacher at the high school level. I finished by B.A. last semester in Phys. Ed. through SUU. I enjoy baseball and football and the Jazz when they don't stink it up! I am a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Braves. I am also a fan of the Texas Longhorns (who just choked in the National Championship last night). I am the head JV coach baseball coach at Lehi High School, and hope to help tranform that program into a winner.
I have a beautiful wife named Brittany who works full time and goes to esthetician school full time. Luckily she only has 5 more weeks till she graduates with a masters in esthetics.
I am very excited about this upcoming year in school and with coaching.
I have a beautiful wife named Brittany who works full time and goes to esthetician school full time. Luckily she only has 5 more weeks till she graduates with a masters in esthetics.
I am very excited about this upcoming year in school and with coaching.
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