Yesterday, we tried out the spin class at our local studio. Brenda doesn’t offer her step classes on Monday, Wednesdays, or Fridays so we thought it’d be a good workout option for the in-between days.

*Side note: If you’re new around here, Brenda is our super-spirited, always-energetic, 65-year old fitness instructor who charges us $3 to get our butts whooped. 

Needless to say, the spin instructor was not Brenda and left us feeling pretty disappointed after class yesterday. Before class started, Nicole and I were chatting about work and some of the frustrations we were facing with the overall system in the county here. So, while I was on the bike, feeling completely upset about my workout experience, I got to thinking about how much fitness instructors are comparable to classroom teachers. An instructor can absolutely make or break a workout experience for people. In the same way that a classroom teacher is responsible for a child’s learning experience.

1) You have to be passionate about what you do. 

When Brenda takes the stage, right before class is about to start, you can see the enthusiasm bursting out of her. She is just thrilled to be with us and it’s evident the entire time she’s up there. From her facial expressions to the words of encouragement she shouts out to us throughout the hour, she’s 100% there and enjoying every second of it. At the end of class last week, she joked with us that she “was up all night, thinking of different steps and playlists for the class and was too excited to sleep.”

Similarly, classroom teachers have to love what they do. Kids are able to pick up on non-verbal cues. Nothing that you say will matter to a child unless they can see you are invested in them as an individual and as a member of the classroom. And, though you will see several people attempting to compartmentalize in order to achieve a work/life balance, good teachers know that this is difficult to do. This is because, at the end of the day, you are working with little humans and there is always something you can be doing to serve them better. That is called passion. When you love something so much, you just can’t turn it off.

2) The ones who are prepared are the ones who are most effective. 

Brenda comes to class with her iPod ready to go with a playlist that she has created with her steps in mind. She’s not willy-nilly playing Pandora’s Top Hits radio station. She’s thought about what movements we are going to do and whether the pacing is appropriate for our class. She has created a predictable routine for us at the beginning of the class which helps us build momentum and gives us an overall incredible workout.

Similarly, classroom teachers who create lesson plans are far more productive than those reading from the curriculum. Classroom teachers who preview the content can identify barriers that a student may face and can address them before the implementation of the lesson (e.g. the text will be difficult for John to read independently so I will pair him with a buddy for this activity. Nicole never has school supplies with her so I will put out papers and pencils in the center of each table). Every minute counts with these students. If we can address these barriers prior to the lesson, our lesson will be more productive and effective.

3) It’s not about the tools. It’s how you use them.

On the first day of our step class, I was so taken aback by the set-up of the room. Our steps were wooden slabs – nailed together. Our resistance bands were jumbo rubberbands that were tied together in a knot. And there were a few kids running around their mamas and I was afraid that I was going to accidentally smush one of them. But, once we were all up and running, I was amazed by the quality of the workout. We’ve been going to Brenda’s class for several weeks now and every single time I’m there, I am blown away by the things my body is able to do with very little equipment.

On the other end of the spectrum, you can have really expensive equipment (e.g. a spin bike, for example). And, unless the instructor can use the bike and the hour wisely, it could very well be a poor workout if the student doesn’t know how to independently challenge herself.

Similarly, classroom teachers are often given a curriculum to use with their students. A script. A “how-to” guide that spits out worksheets and activities and assessments – all aligned to the Common Core standards. I’ve observed a number of teachers who will read from the Teacher Manual without stopping to reflect on whether or not their students are 1) engaged or 2) learning. Good teachers know that teaching is so much more than the tools and resources we are given; it’s how we use them in the classroom to facilitate student learning.

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So, on this Teacher Tuesday, I raise my coffee mug and toast to you all as we all strive to become better teachers and better fitness instructors. Happy Tuesday!

Questions of the Day:

• Who was your favorite teacher growing up? 
• What is the best fitness class you’ve taken?