Why Team Sports Belong in the Middle School ELA Classroom
If you're like most middle school teachers, you're always looking for ways to engage your students and help them learn. And what better way to do that than through competitive team sports?
Sure, you might be thinking, "But I don't know anything about sports!" Don't worry - you don't have to be a jock to use team sports in your classroom. I’m pretty sure I was picked close to last in every P.E. game we ever played (and that includes mat ball). All you need is a little creativity and a willingness to think outside the box.
So why are team sports such a great teaching tool? For one thing, they're competitive. And competition can be a great motivator, especially for middle schoolers.
Think about it this way: when students are competing against each other, they're more likely to pay attention and really try to learn the material. They're also more likely to remember what they've learned because they'll be using it in a way that matters to them.
Plus, let's face it: team sports are just plain fun for a lot of our kids. They're a great way to get students up and moving, and they can be a bonding experience for your whole class.
So if you're looking for a way to mix things up in your ELA classroom, consider adding some team sports into the mix. Your students will thank you for it!
Here are a few fun ways to incorporate team sports into your ELA learning this school year:
1. Football Figurative Language
My students are always talking about the latest football game and their favorite players. (I'm always getting a little heat for liking Tom Brady, but I'm not backing down.) So I like to use football examples when I teach figurative language. Then we can make up our own "sport" as student teams race to match their examples to the correct type of figurative language.
2. Public Speaking Games
At the beginning of the year, my students are always so nervous about speaking in front of the class. It's a real problem! Letting the kids play games in teams (especially these silly public-speaking games) helps them feel like they know more kids in the class so they're more likely to take risks in front of each other.
3. Persuasive Dodgeball
One of the best things about using team sports in your classroom is that it can help students remember concepts they've learned. For example, if you're teaching a lesson on writing persuasively, you can have students play a game of dodgeball where each team represents a different side of a debate and a player has to support their side of the argument with evidence before they can throw the ball. It's ridiculous but memorable!
Do you have any other great ideas for using team sports in the ELA classroom? Send me an email at olivia@distinguishedenglishteacher.com!