Kiai!
My daughter is studying karate with a pair of instructors who have been teaching for over 20 years. Each time I watch a class I find my mind wandering to teaching strategies and educational research because this is what I see:
Standards Based Grading - Students are assessed on objectives that are clearly identified in advance. Belt color is based on skill acquisition, not seat time or age.
Mixed Age Groups - Classes are divided by belt color, but include a range of ages. My daughter, 8, is in class with students as young as 5 and as old as 12. Inexperienced students learn by watching those with stronger skills and more experienced students benefit from "apprenticing" new recruits.
Interleaving - Rather than mastering one skill at at time, instructors mix the practice of related skills together on a regular basis. This method has been shown to train students' brains more effectively.
Feedback - Instructors provide specific, timely and positive feedback on speed, accuracy, positioning and effort.
Retrieval Practice - Students practice remembering how to demonstrate specific forms, kicks, blocks and punches regularly, so much so that when the belt test rolls around, most are already experts in the material to be tested.
Gamification - As students demonstrate skill acquisition and approach a new level, their belts are "striped" and they earn patches for their uniform.
Engagement and Play - Concentration and coordination games are a regular part of class. The instructors are quite clever and students are fully engaged, often hanging on every word.
Growth Mindset - Effort, growth and discipline are addressed in nearly every lesson. Students are encouraged to compete against themselves and better their personal best each day. Stories of practice, patience and progress are regular fixtures in class.
The result of these strategies? A long standing family business and students who are confident and connected in their study of karate. Thank you, Johnny Gyro Karate!
Standards Based Grading - Students are assessed on objectives that are clearly identified in advance. Belt color is based on skill acquisition, not seat time or age.
Mixed Age Groups - Classes are divided by belt color, but include a range of ages. My daughter, 8, is in class with students as young as 5 and as old as 12. Inexperienced students learn by watching those with stronger skills and more experienced students benefit from "apprenticing" new recruits.
Interleaving - Rather than mastering one skill at at time, instructors mix the practice of related skills together on a regular basis. This method has been shown to train students' brains more effectively.
Feedback - Instructors provide specific, timely and positive feedback on speed, accuracy, positioning and effort.
Retrieval Practice - Students practice remembering how to demonstrate specific forms, kicks, blocks and punches regularly, so much so that when the belt test rolls around, most are already experts in the material to be tested.
Gamification - As students demonstrate skill acquisition and approach a new level, their belts are "striped" and they earn patches for their uniform.
Growth Mindset - Effort, growth and discipline are addressed in nearly every lesson. Students are encouraged to compete against themselves and better their personal best each day. Stories of practice, patience and progress are regular fixtures in class.
The result of these strategies? A long standing family business and students who are confident and connected in their study of karate. Thank you, Johnny Gyro Karate!
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