Can Teachers Learn From the NFL Playoffs?

It is that time of year again, a time for parties with potlucks, commercials and halftime

shows. It is a time of heartbreak for many NFL fans, and joy for fans of one lucky team. Now as

the NFL playoffs conclude and we anxiously wait for the Superbowl, we can ask ourselves as

educators: Is there a way we can learn from these football players?

 Tyler Bass: The Buffalo Bills

         Sometimes Lesson Plans Miss Wide Right.

NFL fans around the country watched with mixed emotions as Tyler Bass’ 40-yard field

goal to perhaps earn the Buffalo Bills a trip to the AFC Championship game missed wide right.

With Tyler Bass sitting alone on the bench and watching his team be eliminated from the

playoffs yet again, I could not help but feel for him. However, as an educator I have been in this

position as well. With so many learning styles, abilities, and personalities in the typical

classroom it is important that teachers differentiate their classroom to meet the needs of their

students. I’ll never forget I had this racing through my mind as I prepared for my first lesson

while student teaching. It was a lesson on the Neolithic Revolution. This is not a topic that 10 th

graders are absolutely ecstatic to learn about in the first place, so I needed to find ways to bring it to life. I spent what seemed like hours in my dorm putting together the perfect lesson plan, with an awesome sponge activity, an amazing PowerPoint presentation, and even a think-pair share activity that allowed the students to work together and learn from each other. Well, my lesson plan missed wide right. It was like I was Tyler Bass in the AFC playoffs, alone on the bench with no one to blame but myself. My lesson was so boring it was putting me to sleep. My student teaching supervisor even confirmed this. Luckily, I was able to make some slight changes to the lesson and turn things around by day's end. The most important thing I learned from this lessonis I became a better teacher from it. It is ok to make mistakes in education.

 Patrick Mahomes: The Kansas City Chiefs

         Take on the Blitz: Effective Classroom Management is Key to Success.

If you are familiar with the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback you are familiar with his

incredible throws down the football feed and the way he is able to weave in and out of defenders.

He displayed this to both the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens this postseason as any time

their defense blitzed him, it backfired. How can educators learn from this? It is ok to have a little

craziness in your classroom. It is how you handle the craziness that matters. It is not uncommon

to have occasional side conversations going on in my classroom. In these moments I need to

make the decision to address this after teaching the students who are focused and ready to learn rather than getting off task with a lecture about respect. Be a Patrick Mahomes when teaching; read and handle the blitz. Do not make students feel marginalized with constant negative attention. Instead, do your best to highlight positive conduct in the classroom. You will score a touchdown every time.

 Brock Purdy: The San Francisco 49ers

         No Student is Mr. Irrelevant.

         Brock Purdy, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers was the 262 nd and final pick of the

2022 NFL Draft. This earned him the nickname, “Mr. Irrelevant.” I will never forget a few years

ago I was working with a student named “Johnny.” Johnny was on the autism spectrum and had

difficult days when things did not go as planned. One day in particular, I ran class differently

than what my agenda stated and Johnny went into a panic attack. The only thing that came to

mind was for me to get at eye level with him and walk him through the changes and reasoning

behind it. Once matters had calmed down a bit, I had a student state to me, “Mr. Magee I have

never seen someone work with Johnny that way.” All Johnny needed at that moment was for

someone to look him in the eye and tell him they understood. Every child has unique talents and

abilities. Every child matters. No child is Mr. Irrelevant.

 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: America’s Couple

         It is ok to Rely on Your Loved Ones.

Finally, how can we forget about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? Throughout the NFL

season, the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce has brought out mixed emotions.

Some NFL fans roll their eyes, while other “Swifties” absolutely adore them. However, you

cannot deny the happiness you see when they are together. Do yourself a favor and take a page

out of Travis’ book. Find happiness with loved ones. Teaching is one of the most difficult jobs

there is. Do not make it harder than it is. Make sure you have a healthy and positive outlet to

surround yourself with. Do not surround yourself with the stresses of the education world we live in. I am not the teacher I am today without my wife Kaitlyn.

My fellow teachers, relax and enjoy Superbowl Sunday. You have more than earned it.

-Robby

@Dr.RobbyMagee