The Power of a Story- Olympics 2018

I love the Olympics. It's mesmerizing.... The competition, the movement, the physical prowess of the athletes and the exuberance and pride displayed by those who make it to the podium. But what always captures me, and has me watching blurry-eyed into the late hours of the night, are the stories. Stories of perseverance and grit. Struggle and strength. We sit back amazed by not only their ridiculous athletic ability but also their drive and motivation to overcome. Although I was only 11 at the time, I can still remember gymnast Kerri Strug's heroic performance at the 1996 Olympic games. Despite injuring her ankle during her first vault attempt, Kerri stuck the landing on her second go, helping the US women beat out Russia for the first time in Olympic history. There are so many amazing stories.... stories like that of Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego who had no face-to-face coach but instead learned his sport by watching YouTube videos. When we know their backstory, all they have been through, we root for them even more!

Have you ever seen those incredibly sentimental P & G "Thank You, Mom" commercials leading up to the Olympics? If not, watch this one (and try not to cry!).

I love the end... Being a Mom is truly the hardest but most rewarding job... and so is being a TEACHER!! In a lot of ways we can compare what we do as teachers to motherhood or fatherhood. We do it all- from wiping snotty noses to helping students get back up after a failure. We know "no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship." So as we listen to the stories of our Olympic heroes over the next few weeks, remember the importance of doing the same with our students. Ask them about their story, and share your own story, and you may find yourself becoming an even bigger fan... and rooting for their success like never before!

So how can students share their story with you and with peers? 

Of course good old face-to-face interaction is the best way to begin building relationships with students. But technology can help students to share their story in a variety of ways! You might find yourself learning more about your quietest students when you provide them the opportunity to share their story using technology.

Video Creation- kids love to share about themselves and they love creating videos! Let's mesh the two. 

If you are working with Kinder-1st grade students, programs/apps like Seesaw, Draw & Tell, Superhero Comic Book Maker, & Chatterpix provide a simple user-friendly way for students to create their own videos. Even Kindergartners can be independent with these apps!

2nd-5th grade students also love Seesaw and Chatterpix. They also gravitate towards apps like Apple Clips and iMovie. If you do not have iPads, your students can tell their story via Google Slides or WeVideo. 

Here are some additional Olympic themed resources!

Olympics Google Slides with research and videos! (created by Tech Coach Mohler!)

Olympics 2018 Maker Space Ideas (created by Tech Coach Jacob!)
Winter Olympics Ideas for the Classroom- I love the Incorporate Technology & Mix Sports and Competition into your Routine sections!
Olympics Graphing with Google Sheets
Math Brain Teasers
BrainPop Olympics- Be sure to check out the Make-A-Movie Section!
Economic Impact- Winter Olympics by the Numbers

education.com 
readwritethink.org
educationworld.com