The Theory of Learning

-Teaching should be based on science.

-Teaching is a specialized profession and as teachers, we need to have expert skills.
-Teacher candidates need to articulate a theory of learning.

These are a few introductory points that caught and held my attention from the first chapter of Strategic Reading by Wilhelm, Baker, and Dube. They are facts to think deeply about. At this point in our college careers we have learned about multiple theories that we must now consider adopting or rejecting. We are in the process of shifting from students to perspective teachers and that means we need to establish our own theory of learning.

Wide awake teaching and learning-centered instruction are two theories I accept. Being “wide awake” in our profession means to frequently examine our methods, theories, values, and purpose regarding our teaching. This is a practice that can help teachers avoid using lessons, material, or activities that do not work. By critiquing our teaching, we can correct mistakes and remain aware of what works best for our students. Similarly, the theory of learning-centered instruction is progressive because knowledge is constructed. Otherwise, students rehearse teacher lectures without ever absorbing the information to apply it elsewhere.

It is our responsibility to review and assess literature like this. If we are to base our teaching on science, we have to conduct research as part of our process. Experiments are also part of our obligation. If something is not working in our classrooms, we must adjust it in order to best serve the students. There is a lot more of information to consider as a teacher candidate. I am just beginning to shape my views regarding my theory of learning.   

Boxing Literacy Profile

I am literate in Boxing. This was not always the case and my journey began in high school. During my junior year, my best friend and I wanted to get physically fit. Our school only offered yoga, hiking and weight training classes, because we were too small to have any sports teams. We were a pair of enthusiastic, thrill-seeking individuals anyway. Boxing was appealing because of the intensity, potential skill and tough reputation. Local gyms offered boxing classes but we were not looking for a forty-five minute cardio lesson. We were looking for the real deal! A gym with a boxing ring, punching bags, and authentic equipment. Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt, a female boxing champion, was leading sessions at a gym in Warwick so that is where we got started.

I bought a mouth guard and wraps as soon as I joined. Jaime taught me to smother my knuckles in petroleum jelly before wrapping my hands because the friction from punching will leave burns and cuts if you don’t. This didn’t prevent bruising, though, and I got plenty of bruises all over my hands. Punching a bag is not all we did while training with Jaime. We began class by jumping rope non-stop for three minutes, the length of a round in a boxing match, with a thirty second break in between. There was a bike path outside the gym so we would do sprints back and forth too. This was supposed to build our endurance and pace our breathing.

We also did jumping jacks, push ups, and sit ups to warm up. Training included shadow boxing (holding weights while you throw air punches), punching bags, hitting the speed bag, and sparring. Sparring is boxing while wearing protective equipment. At the end of class, we would stay longer for the chance to spar in the ring. I sparred with my best friend, a few men, older women, more experienced members, and newbies. Training without sparring is like all practice with no test. You don’t know if you are literate in boxing until you fight.

Two years later, I left high school and boxing to attend the University of New Haven. While I was away, I joined a kickboxing gym. Kickboxing is more of a complete body workout. I needed a solid punch and strong, controlled legs for kicking. Duck walking back and forth, jumping squats, high knees, and toe taps are some exercises that help build stronger legs and thighs. I also got hit in lots of new places (with a leg!): On the inside and outside of my thighs, my calves, my ribs, and hips. I went through conditioning to get used to the new hits. A partner would kick me over and over in the same spots each class to toughen my reaction to kicks. As a new member of this kickboxing gym, I received my first pair of gloves. I was given a pink pair since not many women joined so the gym had to get rid of them when they could. I still carry this pair of gloves today.

After I left UNH, I did not join another gym right away. Instead, I bought a punching bag and practiced a lot on my own. Personally, it’s hard to avoid getting bored when you practice a contact sport all alone. In the summer of 2013, my sister was attending a kickboxing gym in Johnston regularly. Christina Rondeau, another female boxing champion, owned multiple all-women boxing gyms around RI and this was one of them. I decided to join the same gym in Johnston with my sister. The classes I attended were all about practice and no test, no sparring. That was a separate class that I didn’t have time to attend.

Eventually when my schedule allowed it, I would occasionally attend the sparring sessions. At this point, it had been eight years since I sparred. It felt like conditioning all over again because I was getting hit over and over and my response to getting hit was weak. This only made me angry and I would waste lots of energy trying to avoid kicks and punches instead of tactfully fighting back. It took some time to get used to fighting again because I was used to hitting an unresponsive punching bag. I also didn’t have a mouth guard anymore so when I got hit in the face, my mouth would swell up pretty bad. Having the right equipment to spar is really important!

Over the years I learned how to wrap my hands properly, protect my face, block hits, lead with my left and right, throw uppercuts, jabs and roundhouse kicks, take a hit, and so much more. Telling strangers that I box is always an interesting icebreaker. They usually imagine me in a forty-five minute cardio boxing class.

Learning how to box has taught me that learning takes time, the right tools/equipment, frustration, practice and assessment. "Practice makes perfect," but you won't know until you test yourself. As a teacher, I also want to encourage growth because learning does not end. I still learn new techniques and vocabulary everyday, which extends my boxing literacy. I did not stop practicing after my first year of boxing, I still practice. Similarly, reading and writing are literacies I continue to practice. I hope to teach my students that there is no cap on learning. Boxing has also helped me connect with young girls who want to try something outside of their comfort zone, break social barriers, or disregard gender expectations.