Category: For Coaches and Teachers

Announcements, For Coaches and Teachers

You’re Invited to Advanced Coaches Training Oct. 17!

Alison Weaverdyck

You are cordially invited to attend a complementary advanced coaches training hosted by US Academic Triathlon.

When: Saturday, October 17, 9-11 a.m.
Where: Cottage Grove Middle School Media Center
9775 Indian Blvd S, Cottage Grove MN 55016

We will cover such topics as general coaching best practices, practice techniques, and sample Meet activities. This training will benefit both new and seasoned coaches, coordinators, and Host/Facilitators.
Please RSVP by 5 p.m. Thursday, October 15 to me via email (sarah@usacademictriathlon.com) with the name and school/district of each coach who will be in attendance. If you have questions, feel free to email or call 651-489-9348.
Next year we are hoping to do multiple training sessions in different parts of the state, so if you can’t make it this year keep your eyes peeled for next fall.
We look forward to seeing you there next Saturday!
For Coaches and Teachers, For Hosts and Facilitators, For Parents

Meet our Team: Daniel Sheldon

Alison Weaverdyck
  1. Daniel and Peggy at the 2015 Minnesota State Meet
    Daniel and Peggy at the 2015 Minnesota State Meet

    What gets you the most excited about starting a new US Academic Triathlon season?

Growing up with Academic Triathlon (my mother, Peggy Sheldon, is the founder), it is fun to see what the kids come up with as the solutions to the problems – it’s always very different every year. This year I’m excited to be part of the whole process as a formal staff member. I think it’s an excellent program to foster creativity in middle school kids.

  1. What creative things do you do in your spare time?

I’m a photographer, so I’m constantly thinking creatively to get the shot – and thinking outside the “lens” for creative perspectives. Additionally, I run a print shop, so I get to work with clients to design business cards, signs, and whatever printed materials they might need.

  1. What is your favorite USAT event and why?

I love trivia – I have a good mind for facts and details. Ask me nearly any sports statistic or sports history fact and I’ll come up with it. My memory is like an elephant’s – I never forget. Therefore, it has always been fun for me to come up with the content for Face-Off!, and I liked to help my team in this event when I was a student competing in USAT.

  1. What is your role in the program?

I am the Production Director, so it’s my job to make sure the Meet materials each team receives are done well. I value a high standard of production, so it is my goal to make sure the materials you receive are top notch.

  1. Who was your hero when you were in middle school?

Kirby Puckett – he stood for strong leadership and great teamwork. Plus, he was an amazing athlete.

For Coaches and Teachers, For Parents

Meet our Team: Alison Sheldon Weaverdyck

Alison Weaverdyck
  1. What gets you the most excited about starting a new year of US Academic Triathlon?

Even though the program only runs half the year, my brain is running full time! I have been coming up with ideas for new challenges and I am looking forward to figuring out how to turn them into Mind Sprints and PARTY events.

2. What creative things do you do in your spare time?

I do a lot of different creative things. For starters, I write a lot. I am working on both a novel and a nonfiction book, which is based on my blog about Steampunk which I post to three times per week. I am also currently running drama clubs for 1st-3rd graders and teens through my local Friends of the Library organization. I get to really test my own improv skills later this fall when I start leading walking tours around Sacramento where I have to be in character as a resident of the 1850s. Lastly, I make mixed media assemblage art out of scrapbook paper, found objects and canvasses.

3. What is your favorite USAT event and why?

When I was on a team back in the day, my favorite event was always PARTY in a Box. I was never a shy kid, so getting up in front of people was easy and fun for me, and I liked the challenge of creating a skit with so little time. Ever since I got too old to be on a team, I have helped my mom (Peggy) with writing the challenges for a new generation of triathletes, and PARTY has continued to be my favorite event.

4. What is your role in the program?

I am in charge of planning and executing the curriculum for the program, which means that starting this year I will be writing all of the MindSprints, PARTY in a Box prompts and Face-Offs. In the past few years I have written about half of the MindSprints and PARTYs, but I have not been involved in Face-Off beyond fact-checking and proof-reading, so I am looking forward to this new challenge. I also write the articles for this blog, like the PARTY series and SCAMPER series last year. This year I am going to focus on Face-Off, STEM and the theory of Multiple Intelligences, so make sure to follow this blog to get information that can help your students learn, grow, and improve their scores in the competition. Lastly, I will be providing fun brainstorming prompts on a weekly basis through our Facebook page, so don’t forget to “like” us in order to get even more practice materials.

5. Who was your hero when you were in middle school?

Albert Einstein. I was drawn to his brilliance, humility and humor. My favorite quote of his is still “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

 

 

For Coaches and Teachers, For Parents

Meet our Team: Sarah Kirchner Sheldon

Alison Weaverdyck
Sarah at the 2015 State Tournament
Sarah at the 2015 State Tournament
  1. What gets you the most excited about starting a new US Academic Triathlon season?

While I’m sad to see Peggy go, I am excited to help the organization grow and expand following such a strong leadership over the past 30 years. USAT’s staff has exciting ideas for the coming years, and we can’t wait to share them with you!

  1. What creative things do you do in your spare time?

I like to keep busy and stay creative. I write, practice calligraphy, color, scrapbook, crochet, and serve as a photographer’s assistant for my husband’s company.

  1. What is your favorite USAT event and why?

I love writing and watching Mind Sprints. Personally I enjoy puzzles and challenges, and it’s fun to watch teams work through the problem to get to an answer – plus there’s never a wrong answer or a wrong way to get the answer. It’s exciting to watch teams work through a problem in a way that wasn’t anticipated when the Mind Sprint was written. You get to watch students’ minds working through a problem, work together in teams, and see creativity in action!

  1. What is your role in the program?

I am the Executive Director. In this role, I am responsible for scheduling, team/coach organization and communication, marketing/communication/fundraising, and am the primary contact for coaches, parents, and teams. Together with my partners (Creative Director Alison Weaverdyck and Production Manager Daniel Sheldon), we work on strategic planning and overall organizational direction.

  1. Who was your hero when you were in middle school?

My mom – she always told me I could do and be whatever I wanted to do or be. I will never forget that and think every child needs to hear that.

For Coaches and Teachers, For Kids, P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box, Resources

P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box Time: Close Reading

Alison Weaverdyck
From Stainedglassbypj.com
From Stainedglassbypj.wordpress.com

Winning isn’t everything, but it is a shame when a team misses an opportunity to get points because of an oversight.Here are a few ways to help your students excel during the P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box round.

1. Read the Prompt thoroughly. The P.A.R.T.Y. challenges are never longer than one page. Even though 45 minutes isn’t a long time to do everything needed to develop a skit, it is worth a team’s time to read the prompt more than once.

2. Look at the scoring rubric. It is not a mystery how the performances are going to be scored, the scoring rubric is included on the team copy. Unless penalties are assessed, each performance scores a minimum of 30 points, because we don’t believe in zeroes, and a maximum of 117 points. Some categories stay the same, and others change depending on the story being told. Each section of the “Team’s Use of Materials” category is always worth a maximum of 10 points, for instance, and is about the appearance of costumes and sets. The section with the largest potential for earning points always centers on the plot, and the team’s ability to address the central problem. On its own, this part is worth up to 25 points. Some prompts also require teams to do something specific, like recite a poem or add music, and if gets left out it can mean a loss of 10 points.

3. Take notes. Every Meet there are teams who have to prepare their performance during the first Tri, which means it can be hours between seeing the prompt and when the performance finally takes place. Even though teams can’t take the prompt with them in order to ensure that no other team gets an unfair advantage, there is no reason they can’t take notes about what they are going to do in their skits. In the excitement of performing, kids can sometimes forget their lines and leave out something key to their story. These notes can be kept “back stage” and referred to during the performance to make sure that nothing important gets forgotten. Another place where these notes can come into play is if the team uses a narrator, who can hold onto them during the performance and refer to them throughout.

Check out the other PARTY posts for more tips!
Make it Memorable
Costumes Make the Characters
Backdrops Set the Scene
Props Add Pop