Throughout this action project, I encountered several challenges but successfully overcame each one. One of the first difficulties was engaging with the third-grade students, as they were initially shy and hesitant to talk to someone new. To overcome this, I stayed positive, maintained a warm and welcoming smile, and initiated conversations. Another challenge arose during gym class while teaching basketball skills because the students struggled to stay focused and often became distracted by dribbling the ball during instructions. I addressed this by having them sit with both hands in their laps to help them concentrate. Additionally, I faced a technical issue while assisting students with logging into their iPads for their Daily 3 assignment, which included reading, writing, and vocabulary. Since the devices were glitching, I informed the teacher and advised the students to try using a different device. Lastly, another crucial challenge I faced was managing the basketball game we played in gym class since the boys began pushing each other and arguing. I handled the situation by involving the teacher, who helped everyone stay calm and made sure the game was fairly played.
This experience changed the way I think because I realized that every student learns differently. Some understand better when instructions are written on the whiteboard, while others prefer hearing them explained in person. Knowing this is important because it helps set each student up for success. I also learned that a simple, encouraging phrase can make a big difference in someone’s day, so as an educator, it’s important to uplift students since you never know what they might be going through. Lastly, I became better at reading body language, which helped me understand how to approach students. For example, if a student looks down while talking, they might be anxious.
This action project has influenced my future choices in a couple of ways. Although I enjoyed being in a classroom, I have decided that teaching will not be my career path. Instead, I want to explore career options related to my passion for basketball. I enjoyed teaching the young students different basketball skills in gym class, so I’m going to start looking for more opportunities in coaching. Furthermore, in the future I could be a coach for a school’s basketball team.
This project has made a positive impact locally on many students at Ranch Park Elementary School. I built meaningful connections with young students and helped them see that older kids aren’t as intimidating as they might seem. I’ve also inspired many students to play basketball inside/outside of school because they enjoyed my teaching lessons in gym class. Therefore, I am excited to see where the sport of basketball takes them in the near future, and I’m glad I was able to be a role model for them.
