This is a little off topic, but since we're all into basketball...Does anyone have any experience with John Wooden's Pyramid of Success? I teach 5th grade and recently read "Wooden: A lifetime of Observations On and Off the Court". I'm going to put the pyramid up in my classroom and work our way through it discussing each block (probably having the students prewrite about each block, then discuss it as a class, and have the students post-write on the block). Right now I'm in the information gathering stage. Has anyone ever read any other books that would help or used it in a high school or college program? I just thought it discussed a lot of deeper issues of education and life that are outside our core curriculum. Also, its another way of connecting with my students about work ethic and achievement. Thanks in advance.

Here's another Wooden book: http://www.crosstrainingpublishing.c...554ecb3c0bde56

Also, check out my dad's new book while you're there: http://www.crosstrainingpublishing.c...554ecb3c0bde56

I may be off base here, but if I remember it correctly, there was a religious aspect to this. Do you teach in a public school? You might want to reconsider this.

Of course, I might be remembering it incorrectly. My "senior moments" have been turning into "senior weeks".

Mark,
There is some religious aspects in that it talks about faith. I'm going to address this as putting your faith in whatever you want, whether it be your religion, yourself, your family or your friends. It is kind of a dicey area and there are some quotes on this block from his book I will not be able to use because it specifically reflects Christianity. Thanks for bringing that up though. It was something I definitely thought about as I decided to use this in my room. By the way, yes, I am in a public school.

I saw a great T-shirt during football season:

"Why does God allow so much violence in the schools?" On the back side it reads:
"God is not allowed in School"

LOL I want this Tshirt.

:rolleyes:

Why exactly is this a problem?

Bringing up Christianity is a plus!

Because we live in a time and society where political correctness has gone amok and any references in public to faith-bases items are not looked upon favorably (to say the least).

No, it's because some sectors of society are better served valuing ALL methods of faith, and not just North American Christian-based ones.

Every once in a while, the religious right in Western society has to be reminded that they have not cornered the market, nor are they the final word, when it comes to morality, humanity, and the basic principles of right and wrong.

I am not going to participate in a holy war here....I've said my piece, and that's that. We agree to disagree. Post your response for all to read, but I will not be replying in kind.

Besides, there's still lots of basketball to talk about :D

P.S. I have Coach Wooden's homepage bookmarked on my PC, and while I know he is a man of Christian faith, he does not base his "pyramid" on it, and he refreshingly goes out of his way NOT to include it - demonstrating that what he's teaching transcends religious labels and goes to the deeper truths that humankind faces.

Well said Canuck. That was pretty close to the thoughts I was going to post. As a public school teacher I am extremely careful about not presenting any specific religious beliefs. I do have my convictions, but it is certainly not my job to push them on my students. On a related concept, earlier in the year I had my students do election speeches over the presidential and we held a mock election with the entire school. I must have hidden my views well because the class was virtually split in two when I asked them to predict who I was voting for. I had them do this just to make sure I was giving each of the major parties equal time. I was pleased that they didn't nail down my actual view. Okay, I'm done rambling. I have a copy of the pyramid ready to post in my room this week and I'm hoping to begin discussing and writing about it next week.

Cute.

I am thinking the same thing.

You've probably already seen this but this site does a good job going over the pyramid of success.

http://www.coachwooden.com/

Thank you.

Okay, I've changed my mind.

Grow up. :rolleyes:

A very quick comment on the idea of that the religious right has a corner on right and wrong (which I sometimes refer to as "Truth").

It is not just the "religious right" that believes they have cornered the market on "Truth". Isn't that true no matter what you believe?

If you believe there is no God...than aren't you saying the person who believes there is a God is wrong?

If you believe you can't know if there is a God...than aren't you saying the person who believes you can know is wrong?

If you believe God is ______...than isn't the person who believes anything else wrong?

Okay, maybe this isn't as quick as I thought :) ...but my point is whatever our individual beliefs...in some way every belief is exclusive of other beliefs. It's not just the "religious right."