Wrestling in the Classroom

[ookkie]

Howdy folks!

As some of you may know (although in general I'd be shocked if anyone recalled my existence on the board), I am an English teacher at the High School level. I'm working on wrapping up the current semester and looking forward to the lessons I'll be teaching in the next one.

For the first time in a while I will be teaching a Grade 11 course. The interesting thing about this specific class is that it is a generally athletic group and all-male.

I've been toying with the idea of reviewing some of the skills and concepts central to the English curriculum using WRESTLING. Of course, we'd do a lot of the regular stuff (novel study, grammar, etc.), but I figured that pro-wrestling might be fun to use to review terms.

In other words:

1) Studying plot by looking at the pacing of a match (or feud)
2) Studying characterization techniques (through promo study, actions as heel/face/antihero)
3) Studying conflict (person versus person, person versus self, etc.)
4) Studying theme
5) Practicing oral communication skills and rhetoric techniques by reviewing several promos (and then writing one)
6) Practicing non-fiction writing strategies (letters/blogs/etc) concerning issues raised by wrestling (stereotyping, gender, violence)
7) Practicing media techniques (video creation, editing) to put together a promo package for a created persona

I've tried thinking of good exemplar matches to use or offer as choices of study, from Hogan/Andre at Wrestlemania III to the first MiTB match. Promo-wise, people like Flair, Rock, Michaels and Wyatt come to mind.

Any suggestions that you'd offer? I'm excited about seeing how this goes and would love to hear ideas from fellow fans.

Cheers,

Ookk

PS - I wasn't sure if this should be placed in Off-Topic or WWE Current... so if it has to be moved, I apologize in advance!

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

I do a pretty awesome unit with *Antigone. It might not be in the 11th grade CC curriculum, but the sophomores responded to it really well. You have to really set up man versus authority and social justice first. Reading it will take about two weeks straight through, three if you have reluctant readers. Then, I have a playlist on YouTube called "WWE Antigone". (Fast forward one clip to HHH's rationale.) Show it after you read the play, then use a character map comparing the characters. The map literally fills itself. If you want actual lesson plans or other graphic organizers, DM me.

[Manute Bol]

I teach high school English as well and would be crucified by my AP if I tried this. I pepper my lessons with wrestling references (such as telling them of Vince McMahon's hatred of pronouns to remind them to use proper nouns in their papers), but an entire unit on wrestling seems odd at the high school level. You can use The Catcher in the Rye and Huck Finn to show them these same things.

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

Jan 4, 2015 2:44:31 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

I teach high school English as well and would be crucified by my AP if I tried this. I pepper my lessons with wrestling references (such as telling them of Vince McMahon's hatred of pronouns to remind them to use proper nouns in their papers), but an entire unit on wrestling seems odd at the high school level. You can use The Catcher in the Rye and Huck Finn to show them these same things.

Well, no, not as an "anchor text", lol. But, when teaching hard to reach boys, it might be worth a shot, especially if they need the basics reinforced.

[ookkie]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've taught Sophocles before (mainly Oedipus Rex) so Antigone would be comfortable terrain.

Manute Bol, I agree that it's an unorthodox approach. My plan had been to use it as a mini-unit or lead-up to review several concepts in larger units throughout the course, but it's not 'set in stone' as of yet.

Catcher would be an interesting text to use provided that the group would remain engaged. I've found that Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men also tends to be well-received.

Cheers!

[thegame415]

I thought this thread would be about putting wrestling moves on classmates. Like the time the class bully made a kid in my class puke from an ankle lock.

[Manute Bol]

Jan 4, 2015 16:21:21 GMT -5 ookkie said:

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've taught Sophocles before (mainly Oedipus Rex) so Antigone would be comfortable terrain.

Manute Bol, I agree that it's an unorthodox approach. My plan had been to use it as a mini-unit or lead-up to review several concepts in larger units throughout the course, but it's not 'set in stone' as of yet.

Catcher would be an interesting text to use provided that the group would remain engaged. I've found that Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men also tends to be well-received.

Cheers!

I teach in NYC, in a very high needs school located in the the most urban of urban areas and have tremendous success with The Catcher in the Rye every year. Students are fascinated by J.D. Salinger and are always curious as to what in the book made Mark David Chapman kill John Lennon. I show them clips of Salinger documentaries, we have great discussions, and they make me mix CDs of songs they think Holden would like based on his characterization and the themes of the novel.

My point is, as English teachers, we should use our of passion for literature to motivate reluctant readers rather than our passion for wrestling. This reminds me of colleagues who use rap lyrics to teach poetic devices. Teenagers will come across rap and wrestling on their own time; we should be showing them things that are just as awesome but that they won't discover without our influence. It's so easy to dumb ourselves down and make things easy and accessible for our students, when we should be doing just the opposite by challenging them to actually think and discover.

As a side note, I've had a lot of fun with Of Mice and Men as well and was truly happy last year when I got my classes to start using the word tart in place of thot, thottie, and smut. Quite an accomplishment to say the least.

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

Jan 4, 2015 16:54:33 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

Jan 4, 2015 16:21:21 GMT -5 ookkie said:

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've taught Sophocles before (mainly Oedipus Rex) so Antigone would be comfortable terrain.

Manute Bol, I agree that it's an unorthodox approach. My plan had been to use it as a mini-unit or lead-up to review several concepts in larger units throughout the course, but it's not 'set in stone' as of yet.

Catcher would be an interesting text to use provided that the group would remain engaged. I've found that Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men also tends to be well-received.

Cheers!

I teach in NYC, in a very high needs school located in the the most urban of urban areas and have tremendous success with The Catcher in the Rye every year. Students are fascinated by J.D. Salinger and are always curious as to what in the book made Mark David Chapman kill John Lennon. I show them clips of Salinger documentaries, we have great discussions, and they make me mix CDs of songs they think Holden would like based on his characterization and the themes of the novel.

My point is, as English teachers, we should use our of passion for literature to motivate reluctant readers rather than our passion for wrestling. This reminds me of colleagues who use rap lyrics to teach poetic devices. Teenagers will come across rap and wrestling on their own time; we should be showing them things that are just as awesome but that they won't discover without our influence. It's so easy to dumb ourselves down and make things easy and accessible for our students, when we should be doing just the opposite by challenging them to actually think and discover.

As a side note, I've had a lot of fun with Of Mice and Men as well and was truly happy last year when I got my classes to start using the word tart in place of thot, thottie, and smut. Quite an accomplishment to say the least.

There's nothing wrong with being relevant. All my first period class talks about is sports. If Ookie did it just to be "down" then I'd have a problem.

I've taught *A Separate Piece* to inner city kids. Upper class people and their lives might not be relevant to them, but jealousy, competition, and friendship are.

[Mutant Couch]

This might be relevant to you. I read it a while back.

www.academia.edu/424981/What_Could_Professional_Wrestling_and_School_Literacy_Practices_Possibly_Have_in_Common

[ookkie]

Jan 4, 2015 18:58:47 GMT -5 Mutant Couch said:

This might be relevant to you. I read it a while back.

www.academia.edu/424981/What_Could_Professional_Wrestling_and_School_Literacy_Practices_Possibly_Have_in_Common

This is very interesting - thanks so much for posting it!

[ookkie]

Jan 4, 2015 18:44:22 GMT -5 SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids said:

If Ookie did it just to be "down" then I'd have a problem.

My intention isn't to diminish the abilities or to limit the horizons of students by incorporating hypothetical wrestling-based mini-lessons. Depending on the grade and level, we still work with many of the 'big names' - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, William Golding, J.D. Salinger, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, Ken Kesey, etc.

I certainly agree that A Separate Piece, like The Great Gatsby, has a lot to say to students of any class or ethnicity (although I do hate John Knowles [Simpsons reference]).

I do find that it is refreshing to take different approaches, however, in introducing or reviewing key concepts. I've done so using short fiction by George R.R. Martin, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, and Isaac Asimov. When we look at Lord of the Flies, we certainly talk about possible historical-biographical connections to the text as well as its religious allegory, but we also dissect an episode of Survivor, considering leadership qualities, human nature and reality TV editing techniques.

The wrestling analysis approach was one meant to engage students in a different way alongside traditional methods.

In any event, thank you all for the feedback. I never knew we had so many teachers here at FAN! I'd be interested in chatting and sharing ideas if anyone ever wants to do so.

Best,

Ookk

[Super Nintenjoe KBD]

Jan 4, 2015 16:53:22 GMT -5 thegame415 said:

I thought this thread would be about putting wrestling moves on classmates. Like the time the class bully made a kid in my class puke from an ankle lock.

Thats what I thought too. There was a good bit of wrestling in my year in secondary school as we call it here but delightfully it was all in kayfabe. I remember before PE there used to be some "matches" I remember this huge guy givng me a pretty cool (and safe, cant remember how!) powerbomb and me winning a hardcore title giving someone an ankle lock. I remember that same big guy giving someone a pretend Dominator onto a table in a classroom too. We all enjoyed selling rather than actually beating people up and shit, looking back it was a pretty awesome group of lads!

[Deleted]

I did something similar to this with the first Avengers movie and narratives. I am actually in talks with my principal on using wrestling for the unit next year. It helps that my principal is a wrestling fan, though.

I think this is an excellent idea. If you can, run with it. I think the kids will have a lot of fun! It'll be something like this that they remember well beyond school.

[wildchair]

There might be possible negative feedback from parents due to the fact that wrestling is seen as low brow and low IQ entertainment by the mainstream.

It would be entertaining to have the class analyze that famous Ric Flair "I make virgins scream and bleed" promo but I suspect the girls in the class might take offense and it would confuse the gay male students.

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

Jan 4, 2015 20:55:19 GMT -5 ookkie said:

Jan 4, 2015 18:44:22 GMT -5 SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids said:

If Ookie did it just to be "down" then I'd have a problem.

My intention isn't to diminish the abilities or to limit the horizons of students by incorporating hypothetical wrestling-based mini-lessons. Depending on the grade and level, we still work with many of the 'big names' - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, William Golding, J.D. Salinger, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, Ken Kesey, etc.

I certainly agree that A Separate Piece, like The Great Gatsby, has a lot to say to students of any class or ethnicity (although I do hate John Knowles [Simpsons reference]).

I do find that it is refreshing to take different approaches, however, in introducing or reviewing key concepts. I've done so using short fiction by George R.R. Martin, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, and Isaac Asimov. When we look at Lord of the Flies, we certainly talk about possible historical-biographical connections to the text as well as its religious allegory, but we also dissect an episode of Survivor, considering leadership qualities, human nature and reality TV editing techniques.

The wrestling analysis approach was one meant to engage students in a different way alongside traditional methods.

In any event, thank you all for the feedback. I never knew we had so many teachers here at FAN! I'd be interested in chatting and sharing ideas if anyone ever wants to do so.

Best,

Ookk

My niece's AP Teacher started spoiling *GOT* on the board until morale (homework, attendance, etc.) improved in his class.

[ookkie]

Jan 4, 2015 23:23:33 GMT -5 SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids said:

Jan 4, 2015 20:55:19 GMT -5 ookkie said:

My intention isn't to diminish the abilities or to limit the horizons of students by incorporating hypothetical wrestling-based mini-lessons. Depending on the grade and level, we still work with many of the 'big names' - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, William Golding, J.D. Salinger, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, Ken Kesey, etc.

I certainly agree that A Separate Piece, like The Great Gatsby, has a lot to say to students of any class or ethnicity (although I do hate John Knowles [Simpsons reference]).

I do find that it is refreshing to take different approaches, however, in introducing or reviewing key concepts. I've done so using short fiction by George R.R. Martin, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, and Isaac Asimov. When we look at Lord of the Flies, we certainly talk about possible historical-biographical connections to the text as well as its religious allegory, but we also dissect an episode of Survivor, considering leadership qualities, human nature and reality TV editing techniques.

The wrestling analysis approach was one meant to engage students in a different way alongside traditional methods.

In any event, thank you all for the feedback. I never knew we had so many teachers here at FAN! I'd be interested in chatting and sharing ideas if anyone ever wants to do so.

Best,

Ookk

My niece's AP Teacher started spoiling *GOT* on the board until morale (homework, attendance, etc.) improved in his class.

As a huge Song of Ice and Fire fan, even I think that such a tactic is cruel... although effective. To be honest, it is probably something that George R.R. Martin would do (wearing boiled leather, eating eel pie and being about as useful as nipples on a breastplate).

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Winter is Coming

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Damn it, why couldn't you have been MY Teacher when I was in school?? I felt like the only kid who knew wrestling at plenty of points in my School Days. To know there is a teacher out there that loves Wrestling, I feel so robbed!

They sound like some lucky kids anyway, I'd love to try and Ace (Crusher) this class.

[MrElijah]

Use Nick Bockwinkel, Foley, Dusty, The Rock, Flair, Arn Anderson, Piper, Roberts, late 96-97 Austin for promos.

You'll find nothing but gold and contrasting styles

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

Jan 5, 2015 11:30:18 GMT -5 MrElijah said:

Use Nick Bockwinkel, Foley, Dusty, The Rock, Flair, Arn Anderson, Piper, Roberts, late 96-97 Austin for promos.

You'll find nothing but gold and contrasting styles

After Ole turned on Dusty in the cage, Ole cut a promo that even the trainers at The Performance Center make the recruits watch.