This winter both of my kids are playing basketball for the first time. Before this they've only played tball, softball, and soccer. Needless to say, my kids are used to runs and goals being 1 point each. Basketball has been a new challenge as baskets are two points and foul shots are 1 point. At least at this age they don't have three pointers. Kids don't make the best spectators, at least mine don't. Mine get bored watching each other play. I've taken this opportunity to engage them in discussions about the score.
In our rec program, local teenagers are the score keepers managing the score board. After someone scores my kids start to predict what the score should change to before they have a chance to update the board. In between periods, I ask my kids how many baskets a team is ahead or how many baskets a team needs to catch up. They've gotten so good, they actually comment now without me leading the conversation with questions. Last week my son's team lost by two points. My daughter promptly commented, "That's not bad. They only lost by one basket!" Saturday morning basketball is turning out to be a great chance to work on concepts like skip counting and differences.
I have spent recent weekends at the basketball court for my nephew. I played the sport for many years and love to watch it. I can't say that I agree with the way the program he is in is being run this year. Last year's coach let all of the kids play whether they were "good" or "bad" because at this age they are all still learning. According to his new coach the league (6th graders) is a competitive league this year, they have a 5th quarter for those kids that don't get to play as much. I agree with the extra quarter to give kids more time, but what I don't agree with is that the way my nephew's team is being run is the only team on the league that doesn't play those kids with less skills until that 5th quarter. My heart goes out to those kids because they're being told at 11and 12 years old that they aren't good enough. Had that been the situation when I was that age and I was one of those kids that didn't get to play until that 5th quarter but had to put in all the practice time just like everyone else, I would not have returned to the sport. I hope that is not the case for the kids on this team.
ReplyDeleteOh I feel that pain, as a parent. Basketball is thankfully cut and dry 5 on for the 1st and 3rd periods, the other 5 play 2nd and 4th periods. Even playing time for all. My daughter tried softball last spring though and sadly the experience was bad and she didn't want to ever play again. My daughter batted last pretty much every game and played right field 95% of the time she was on the field. She's 10, in a rec league. It broke my heart to hear, "Why do I always bat last?" I grew up playing competitive sports so I do get competition but there's a time and place and rec leagues are NOT it. It's a learning experience and an inclusive one. Talent should have very little to do with playing time. Sadly kids sports are out of control these days. Hoping your nephew, unlike my daughter, has the heart to stick with it past the rough coaches.
DeleteBeing involved in sport throughout my entire life, math in sports was always brought in to play. My dad was a HS math teacher and my mom was an Elementary Special Ed teacher, so I was doomed to be educated in every setting possible. My dad even used sports in education to teach his HS kids. The art of keeping score in bowling has long since been lost with technology and computerized scoring, but he used to teach his kids in school how to do it. It promoted strong math skills, especially on the mental level, as much of it is done in your head. I still remember it to this day!
ReplyDeleteI never thought about using basketball to incorporate skip counting. That is such a great idea to connect math and sports. Some misconceptions that I have even heard from the upper elementary students are that they want to be an athlete when they grow up because they don't want to go to school. I give my typical spiel that athletes need an education to be well rounded and to succeed. This is just another connection that I can make with my learners and motivate them to focus in the classroom as well as on the court, field, or rink.
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