"I want to teach like Tiger Woods plays golf." I heard this declaration at a textbook presentation several years ago and it has really stuck with me. The speaker explained that Tiger Woods is truly a reflective practitioner when it comes to the game of golf. The public just sees him out on the fairways, but Tiger spends a lot of time behind the scenes studying the game, observing others, analyzing film, and reflecting on his own performance. The result is excellence.
Isn't this what CFG's can help us achieve as teachers? My hope is that setting aside time for study and reflection about our teaching practice will help us achieve excellence in our classrooms.
Here's another sports metaphor. "I want to coach like Bill Parcells."
I have been a Dallas Cowboys all my life, and during the past three seasons, the Cowboys played horribly. Yet in just one season, new coach Bill Parcells has turned the team into playoff contenders. There have not been huge changes in the roster, so what's the difference? Besides stricter discipline and smarter gameplans, I think that Mr. Parcells has injected a dose of more reflective practice into the team. Sportswriters are especially impressed that quarterback Quincy Carter spends so much time watching game film. It's a tool for reflecting on the past and planning for the future.
So, can I coach a CFG like Bill Parcells coaches the Cowboys? What is the role of a coach in helping a group attain excellence?