To get kids to jump higher than their norm, one phrase that I often use is “speed change / explode”. They clue onto it very quickly and you can see the difference right within the same class. However, they often think of this as the ‘super answer’ for everything. So when I ask questions like “When you fall backward, what do you need to do?” or even something ridiculous like “What is for dinner?”, there are usually one or two enthusiastic little hands raised that says “Speed change”. While it is a great answer for things involving force, it is not a universal answer for all.
“Speed change” in scientific terms is simply change of velocity which means acceleration. As we all know now, force = mass X acceleration, but giving young children a formula in physics is not going to go well at all. As adults, understanding the physics behind give you the advantage of true understanding and therefore be able to re-apply it in more than one situation.
Some kids cannot memorize even one poem but can memorize endless suppy of jokes. Why? When the material (or end-goal) is made relevant or when they are emotionally engaged, the retention is improved many folds. Just think, when you try to recall memories from the past, most can vividly remember times when the situation was traumatic or something very funny that you did or your first date. As a good teacher / coach, it is often not about the material itself but the way you enage your students. The ultimate measure of your success is not how you are so much better than your students but actually how good your students are.
Exercise
As a test to how much you retain and understand from class, expand on the acronym ARGOS and try to elaborate on it, its significance and linkages.