Make "Fetch" Happen in Your Classroom
It's not just a quote - it's a mindset
I have a confession.
I love the movie Mean Girls.
The high school antics. The clicks. The drama. What more could you ask for?
Throughout the movie, one of the popular girls, Gretchen Wieners, tries to get the word “fetch” to become a new slogan for something good. For instance, she says, “That is so fetch!”, when referring to a crush a boy has on her friend.
However, Regina George, the leader of the “Plastics”, shuts her down saying, “Stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen!” Unfortunately, Gretchen never gets “fetch” to go viral.
Besides being sad for Gretchen, why does this matter?
I think trying so hard to make something new and creative “happen” is vital for teaching. It’s not easy starting something from scratch and getting students on board with a concept that is unknown and a change from the status quo. I’ve tried things in the past that have failed miserably. I’ve abandoned new games and ideas that I thought would work, but my paras and the students lost interest.
However, this year I’m determined to start a new leadership program with grades 3–5. Will it catch on or flop? I don’t know yet, but I’m fired up about it and can’t wait to implement it in the fall.
You can make a new idea catch on as well.
Let’s make fetch happen!
Here’s how.
1. Have a vision-what’s your “fetch”?
What new, bold idea do you have for your classroom?
Is it a game, a grant you want to write, or a student-centered goal you want to implement? Maybe it’s a unique system in your classroom or program you’re not sure will work but want to try.
For my leadership program I wrote everything down in my PE journal. I actually wrote for a couple of hours, just brainstorming what I wanted it to look like in my class. I was excited, so I kept going.
First, I identified the benefits to the students and my PE class, the tangible items and their cost (wristbands), and the way we would track student progress. I then took a hard look at the time allotment and some of the barriers we might encounter. I didn’t want it to add to my para’s workload by charting too much data, because I need them on board with my vision. Also, due to the size of our classes (80–120 per class), I came up with a simpler version of the program. I think it’s ready to unveil in the fall!
Identify your “fetch”.
Have a plan.
Write it down.
2. Create your masterpiece
Don’t just copy what others are doing.
It’s boring and unoriginal. Sure, “steal” ideas at first, then go beyond and ignite your big dream.
For this program, I “stole” ideas from several sources, combined them, and generated something new. Here’s what happened.
The idea first came to me from a failure.
I had a summer job interview at a fitness place for kids. They have a chart with a bunch of levels their members can achieve, based on attendance, helpfulness and participation. From there, they can monitor their progress using a sticker chart. As they climb the ranks, they can earn more responsibilities, such as being a captain of a team, leading warmups and more. I was excited at this job opportunity, because I love working with kids and I thought this would be a great fit. Plus, I could see this program in action.
However, they never called me back. I felt like they told Micheal Jordan he couldn’t teach basketball, but, oh well. I got a great idea from them!
I took that program and mixed it with martial arts, which I love and we have at our school. I’ve also seen other PE teachers online implementing a “belt” system with activities like jump roping and hula hooping. I designed a similar system, where students could move up levels with wristbands for belts. The goal is to become a black belt in 3 years. Some students will hate it. Some will love it. I think most will like it and be motivated to climb the ranks.
This is my (potential) masterpiece.
Design.
Create.
Be bold and daring.
3. Create a reality distortion field
There’s a famous story about Steve Jobs.
In Walter Isaacson’s book, Steve Jobs, Bud Tribble at Apple claimed that Jobs created a “reality distortion field” around his ideas. He said this was how Jobs would bend reality to convince himself and his team that the idea he had that seemed impossible, was in fact possible and would work. People thought he was crazy, that deadlines couldn’t be met, and that the budget wouldn’t work, but if Steve said it would happen, people got on board and made it a reality.
For the leadership program I plan on implementing in the fall, I’ve already mentioned it to my classes and paras as we wrapped up the school year. This gave them a hint at what’s ahead and built some excitement for the upcoming year. The paras think it will be a new way to motivate students to be responsible and helpful, while also being good sports. The students want to shine and show themselves, their families and peers what they can accomplish.
You need to do this with your “fetch”.
Convince the people around you that your idea will work, even if it sounds crazy. Get your administration, other teachers, parents and students on board. Share your vision and keep moving forward.
Don’t give up or give in.
Just go for it.
4. Make it stick
This is the final, but most difficult step.
You need to connect your idea with the students. Make it something they will care about. Your design should meet their interests and needs. This will help motivate your students and add a fun element to your “fetch”. For instance, your idea could have a theme based on:
a popular movie (Star Wars, Avengers, Toy Story)
a video game (Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite)
a trendy singer or show (Taylor Swift, Stranger Things)
It could also have a visual element:
leaderboards
sticker charts
Google forms
team points
spreadsheets visible to students
My leadership program will have tangible items (wristbands) a theme (martial arts), and a system to track students (gamification). We will sit down as a group and discuss the program, its benefits, and the short and long-term goals. From there, students will help design the program with their input. They will “co-create” it with me so they have a voice in the design.
Then, you must be consistent. If it doesn’t work right away, give it time. Make changes if necessary. My program will take time for the students to see a lot of improvement, just like in martial arts. However, I want to reward them with quick wins in the beginning of the school year. Like with any video game, Girl Scout badges, or martial arts class, the first couple of levels should come fast and fairly easy. If children think something is too difficult they might never stay with it.
Get students a quick win.
My plan is to hand out white “belts” by the end of week 2, to those students that want to participate and demonstrate the behavior necessary to achieve this small goal. The second belt will be at the end of the first quarter. Slowly, the belts will take longer and it will be much more difficult to receive. Not everyone will earn black belt status in three years. However, everyone has the opportunity if they work at it.
The point is to start small and give quick wins to keep students interested and motivated.
Hopefully, this builds momentum and gets the idea to stick.
Stay tuned.
I’ll let you know if “fetch” happens this school year.
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