All fall long I play "Football Friday" with my classes and with some of the faculty. Football Friday is a college football games predicting game that I made up. Each week I choose 9 of the "big" games, place them on a slip of paper, talk about each game for a few minutes, then let the students pick who they think will win.
Each Monday I give them back their "scored" slips. A better ranked team win is worth 5 points and an underdog win is worth 10. I keep individual and class records.
When the bowl games came along, I divided them into two groups and we "picked" ten games in each group.
Monday was the day to reveal the CHAMPIONS.
I was so excited to find FOOTBALL ribbon to decorate the treat bags for my 7 champs. And of course, inside the bag is CHOCOLATE - - - nothing less would do for a Football Friday Champ.
The trophy for the wining class - - - this year my Biology Class - - - was a leather football luggage tag, adorned with more of the football ribbon, marked on one side "Champs" and "Football Friday," and on the other side 2010, Biology, Class of 2013. It will join last year's trophy on display in my room.You might not think this is a big deal - - - but the kids seem to enjoy it, and they all want THEIR class to win. The class that won last year periodically makes sure their trophy is in full view at the front of the class.
At parent-teacher conferences I had one dad who THANKED me for giving his 6th grade daughter a LOVE for college football because she will watch games with him.
Now, drum roll please!!! Introducing the FOOTBALL FRIDAY CHAMPS!!
(Disclaimer - - - if you think our choice of clothing is a bit odd, it's Homecoming week, but I'll talk more about that in a later post.)
Miss Shelli beat me by .39 of a point to win the faculty/staff category. She cares not one bit for college football and just randomly circles teams she likes.
The Grand Champion of the School (first place over ALL the other participants) Miss Alli, an eighth grader. She also picks teams by colors, names, mascots, and what "feels" right that week.
6th Grade Champ - - - Miss Olivia. How does she pick her teams? Well, lets just say there's a PATTERN emerging here - - - colors, names, mascots, etc.
Class of 2010 winner, Miss Jerolyn. She ALWAYS picked Clemson, since she has South Carolina Ties - - - after that, you guessed it - - - colors, names, etc, etc,
Sophomore Champ - Miss Rebekah. Her method of choosing is just like all those I've described above. She must really have her technique down pat, because she was the School GRAND CHAMP last year.
Freshman Camp - Miss Jessie. True to the pattern of previous winners, she uses random things like color and mascots to pick her winners.Interesting that 6 of my 7 winners were females. I PROMISE I did not rig the results!
Junior Champ - Ted. Finally, one male winner. But, guess what??? He doesn't care about football and just like the lady champs, his choices were all random.All of us who LOVE college football, and think we "know" how to pick - - - we all lost.
Just goes to show you - - - THAT'S WHY THEY PLAY THE GAME. (Versus just giving credit for the win to the "better" team.) On any given week, any well prepared team has a 50/50 chance of walking away a winner!
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9 comments:
I was going to comment on the all female group until the final fellow showed up.
Have you thought about teaching them to play Texas Holdem? You could work it into a math class. Playing the odds, card counting.
Just teasing you. I think you must be an amazing teacher. You really have your heart in it and the kids must pick up on that.
Now if you could only learn how to pick the mascots and colors better.
They are adorable. Do what you can to keep them interested while they are learning. I love teenagers, this is an important time to be there for them. I would love to work with teenage girls, helping them with their feelings.
What a hoot, that the winners aren't even students of football or real fans! I love it!
I can't remember what it's like not to care too much who wins! In fact in my youth I had to learn the players and positions to earn my engagement ring. It was just a joke------I think. And it was just one team. LOL
What fun! Who knew biology and football were so well suited for each other. :)
Girl Power!! :-) Love that. And I love how one of the dads thanked you for getting his daughter to watch games with him. That's a hoot!
Thanks for your comment today!! (Well, I guess it's yesterday now.) I really appreciate it!
Congratulations to your winners! Love the football ribbon on the bags.
I am really curious about your school now. I thought you were strictly a high school teacher. Is it a combination of middle and high school students?
I think your attire looks groovy!
I want to go back to school with you as a teacher!
Loved this post, Keetha! It brought back memories of how I won the NCAA ball pot my hubs and his friends used to be in all of the time. He tossed a zeroxed bracket at me and asked if I wanted to get in the pot. "Sure", I told him. Later that evening, after three glasses of fine merlot I had filled out the sheet. I kinda used the "eenie, meenie...." technique. I know I certainly enjoyed my time while I sipped the wine and made my way through the schools.
How great that your parent thanked you for instilling a love of FB in his daughter!
Dana
Waytago kids! And to you Keetha-you're a GREAt teacher!
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