Eight Reasons Why My Trainer is my Favorite Co Teacher, Or The Gym as my new PLC

We always work hard, but we always work harder the day after a holiday. “Heavy weight. Just eight,” she says. We believe our fearless leader, and yet somehow doubt her at the same time, such is the paradox of teacher leadership, complete faith and unparalleled doubt. It was just eight, but it was eight again and again and again and again. Do you know what it wasn’t? It wasn’t complicated. It was straightforward. It wasn’t confusing. It was adaptable for every person in that room. She planned the class sitting in church, and I had to smile. How often had I been staring out a bus window or walking my dog when my next classes were planned or the biggest problem of my day solved? I was doing it right that moment, writing this list while lifting twenty pound weights over my head. Teachers don’t every really “turn it off”. Most amazingly of all, there are so many more teachers around me from whom I can learn and who make me feel better about myself and teaching than I ever thought before. Just like Anne says,

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

The workout was hard. I had to open my mouth as a student and remark about a switch or a substitution of some kind, but not because it was wrong. I spoke because as a student, I wanted it easier. As my teacher, she wanted it right. “You teach next time,” was her retort, and immediately I felt my gut clench. I stopped my student voice, and took out my teacher pen to write my trainer, my colleague, a list of eight of her own.

Eight Reasons Why My Trainer is my Favorite Teacher,

Or The Gym as my new PLC

8. Her phrases: “Practice makes permanent.” Or “No one leaves here unsuccessful.” to name a few.

7. At all hours and in all manner of places or health, her mind wanders to planning a class.

6. She attends and experiences other trainers’ classes like a learner.

5. She verbalizes appreciation and respect for all trainers in the club, because teaching is a group effort, not an independent one. (Sometimes we really do need to check ourselves when we participants get too comfortable or snotty.)

4. She knows that teachers are leaders, and this makes you a really good sport about complaints. When she leads, comments are usually directed at the position and its characteristics, not the personal traits of the individual in it.

3. She demonstrates vulnerability and uses it to connect to the participants’ range of experiences, and/or a particular situation on a specific day.

2. She might act like she doesn’t, but she has an objective. (Sometimes it’s even club wide, a community of practice).

1. SHE KNOWS I CAN DO ANYTHING AS LONG AS SHE SAYS, AS MANY TIMES AS SHE SAYS EVEN WHEN I DON’T! That is why I improve.