Title: Coaching/Assisting Biddy Basketball Date: Winter 2009/Winter 2010 Artifact Description: My artifact is a letter from my supervisor, Steve

Knutti, explaining my involvement with a youth basketball program called Biddy Basketball. As part of being on my high schools varsity basketball team, I helped in the coaching of the participants of the camp. The program allows Kindergarten through fifth grade students to participate in a skill building winter long camp. The camp was held every Saturday during the winter months. Each age group would get their own two hour session. My teammates and I assisted running the camp and in some instances, coached the children in scrimmages. Some of the drills helped improve the childrens ball-handling, shooting technique, and most importantly, team skills. We also had timed scrimmages at the end of each session in which the campers would put all of their earlier learned skills to the test. All of the hard practice was building up for the childrens big night which was Mini March Madness. This was the final scrimmage in front of friends and family. Wisconsin Teaching Standard Alignment This coaching experience best aligns with Standard 10-The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well-being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner. I align this artifact with standard ten because of many reasons. First of all, as a coach, I must act as an instructor that the children are to learn from. I then had to display appropriate behavior and fairness toward everyone. I did not know any of the kids so the possibility of unfair treatment was eliminated. Through my coaching, I was able to foster good relationships with many of the childrens parents. At the end of each practice the coaches would review with the parents what the campers had learned for the day and what lessons they were held accountable for. I also was able to establish good relationships with my colleagues. All coaches, much like all teachers, have their own way of teaching and spreading their knowledge. Knowing this, all of the coaches agreed to share tricks we each use to help make a more enjoyable learning environment for the children. This in turn helped all of us become better coaches. Occasionally we would have a camper with a special need which would influence his or her learning or physical ability. All of us understood how some children had special circumstances that would influence their learning and behavior so we just took it in stride. To help enhance the learning environment, we were allowed to use the local schools gymnasium and equipment. Because resources like that are so useful, it is important to know how to use them properly. UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignment I believe this experience best aligns with KSD4.d-This candidate is able to assume a leadership role among colleagues and is supportive and cooperative with peers and volunteers, and serves as a participant and leader in school events and school and district projects. During my experience, I took a leadership role and ran with it. I had the opportunity to work with some of my fellow peers, other volunteer coaches, and a head supervisor. All of the coaches were very cooperative with each other and the parents as well. It was definitely a friendly environment. This basketball camp was a communal activity in which I assumed a leadership role and offered advice to many young learners. Being in this leadership role helped me gain necessary experience to better myself as a teacher and a person. Secondary Alignment: KSD4.f: Shows Professionalism KSD4.c: Communicates with Families What I learned about teaching/learning: I learned that it is very important to establish relationships with the other people involved in your operation. Establishing good relationships allows you to make working with others very easy and more enjoyable for everyone. I also learned that it is extremely important to act and treat everyone with proper manors and fairness. Every single child in the camp deserved the very best I could give them. No one should be treated in unfair ways. What I learned about myself as a prospective educator: I learned that I always need to be involved with the school or community. Activities like this basketball camp are great ways for people to get to know me and vice versa. By getting to know these people and their families, they will in turn gain confidence in activities and projects, like the camp, and allow their children to be more involved. I also learned that teaching is a two way street. Even though I was teaching the children primary basketball skill sets, they were also

teaching me how to be a good leader and teacher. By teaching, I will not only be broadening the knowledge of my students, but they will also be teaching me lessons as well.