Question of the Month

Some of my students feel self-conscious about not running as many laps as their peers. Do you have any advice?

It's important that all Mighty Milers feel a strong sense of accomplishment, no matter what their athletic abilities and goals. If one of your students struggles during practice sessions, consider pairing them up with an older student who can act as a mentor and motivator. You can also stagger when students start running and walking, or have them start at different points on the course so they do not feel like they are competing against one another. During some sessions you can create a single goal for your class to work on, such as completing 50 laps as a group. When you tally up everyone's laps, emphasize the group goal and not individual contributions. You can also create awards like "Most Motivated" or "Helpful Teammate" to give to your students.