Day 161: Kathryn Tutkaluk, PE Teacher, Mayland Heights

Everyday Olympian – Taking Learning Outside the Four Walls of a Classroom

The Olympics have the power to inspire, promote, and encourage students to chase their dreams. But what does it take? How do the sports professionals we see make it to where they are today? What choices have they made? And how do all of their life skills parallel what we are teaching in the classroom?

Persistence, Motivation, Inspiration: 
Do you have what it takes to be an Everyday Olympian? Daily students are introduced to new concepts and skills (ie: working with social media, healthy living, goal setting, financial management, language, etc.). These skills are the strengths of the “Everyday Olympian”. By linking the skills taught in the classroom to professional heroes and leaders, the Grade 5/6 English students were inspired to aim high, to set goals and exceed them all throughout the year. As a culminating activity we explored, “What it takes to be an Everyday Olympian” at University School as part of Campus Calgary Open Minds. This weeklong field trip permitted students to touch history, see the past and dream of the future, to taste healthy choices, to converse with experts and to smell victory.  

As teachers we seek to awaken young minds, encourage students to set goals and achieve them in real, contextual, authentic and meaningful ways. The acquisition of knowledge happens everywhere. This year with a colleague, I had the opportunity to watch young minds ignite with a fuel for learning. This cross-curricular approach to learning has been worth its weight in gold.

 
Kat Tutkaluk (@Ktutkaluk) teaches Phys. Ed. She is easily excited about learning and loves being part of a team. Grade 5/6 colleague: Amanda Perry