Is there anything more Montessori than an open-ended game?
When we think about coaching or leading an athletic program, the first things that come to mind are usually practice plans, strategies, and skill development. But there’s something even more powerful that athletic directors and coaches need to embrace: storytelling.
Throughout my teaching experience, whenever students ask "why" they need to know something, I make sure to have a solid answer. Because if I don’t, guess what, those kids are immediately going to tune me out. If I can’t answer why, then why should they need to know it? The phrases "It’s good to know” or “to be a well-rounded student” do not spark interest. There needs to be a reason why the student is going to pay the mental cost of attention to learn something, and a good explanation can motivate and inspire.
