Educating Difficult Student --> Athletes

The Stereotypical Jock.

The stereotype of athletes is that they refuse to study because sports are more important than education. The typical athlete doesn't want to study, doesn't care about education, and are stubborn in the classroom.  From my experience being a student in middle school/high school I always noticed that some jocks did not want to study because they were tired from practice. However, I honestly refuse to believe that every jock is lazy. Everyone is different so here are my tips for dealing with such students.

1. Befriend the coaches at school 

Befriend a coach is very beneficial because if the students act up all you have to do is pick up the phone in the room (if you have one) and call their coach  When I was in high school my English teacher was best friends with the football coach and if a football player would not listen to her, she would pick up the phone and put him on speaker. let's just say the boys did their work after the man yelled at them. So I highly recommend being on the coaches good side so they have your back

2. Respect your student's after school activities. 

I know for teachers we think the world revolves around us and our work. However, let's put ourselves back in high school and remember how tough it was to juggle so much stuff (homework, clubs, sports, family life, etc). In my experience in high school I always admired the teachers who asked if we had a lot of tests on a certain day and if we did, they would postpone it to another day. When I'm a teacher I will do the same because high school shouldn't be so stressful that you want to hurt yourself like some people when they are stressed out. Also, if your jocks have a game that night try to be a little considerate and tell them they can turn it in the following day. Yet, don't let them walk all over you, when you say the following day, you mean it. 

3. Support Your Students At Games

Yes, it's as simple as that. Go to school events and show your students that you support their sport. Usually when students see a teacher at a game, they of course, avoid them because who wants to be seen with a teacher? However, I do believe it means something to them to know teachers support the sports at school. Also, if you go to the games you'll know more about your student. How they react under pressure. How they are a team player. Etc. Sports are their passion, and when people are passionate about something, that is when their true colors emerge. So, go and support your students.