A metaphor for mindful behaviour...What boots do you wear? Is not a question about shoes. It is a question about success. Every endeavour in which you participate will require different skills, however success often is about attitude, behaviour and application. Boots are used to represent the skills and behaviours that you apply in a given situation. The question, therefore, is whether or not our students are able to apply the appropriate skills and behaviours in each endeavour. As with boots, one size does not fit all. Nor will a single pair of boots allow optimum performance in every physical context in which our students find themselves. Similarly, a single problem solving strategy will not enable success in all academic contexts.
Do our students have the disposition toward behaving intelligently when they encounter difficulties in different situations? What do they do when they 'get stuck'? Do they bring their 'A-Game' to every task they face? How can we help them to do so? Can we guide them on how to use their current 'boots'? How can we fit them with 'new boots' or help them to choose (by themselves) the right pair for the situation? Quite often coaching and training focuses on the development of physical skills, strength and nutrition. There is also an extremely important mental component. The brain should guide the braun. At 'What Boots' we provide consultation and professional development to individuals, schools and sporting organisations. We focus on the development of mindful dispositions and Habits of Mind in young sportspeople with the aim of improving both their athletic as well as their academic outcomes. At 'What boots' we care about student success, not only in academic contexts, but also in the development of mindful dispositions necessary for lifelong learning. We intend that the What boots do you wear? framework can provide a unique pathway in the never-ending search for methods to guide students to their highest potential. |