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    • TEACH WITH BASEBALL
    • OUR STORY
    • STUDENT MATERIALS
    • WHAT RESEARCH TELL US
    • OUR PROGRAM IN ACTION
    • SPORTSBALLKIDS
    • Contact
www.powerhitter.com
  • TEACH WITH BASEBALL
  • OUR STORY
  • STUDENT MATERIALS
  • WHAT RESEARCH TELL US
  • OUR PROGRAM IN ACTION
  • SPORTSBALLKIDS
  • Contact

Reach YouR PlAyers - TEaCH WITH POwErhItTEr®

Our Philosophy

Our Philosophy

Our Philosophy

Powerhitter® Classroom focuses on  

 4 ground rules:  

1. Work towards your personal best,

2. Focus on Today

3. Be a dependable Teammate 

4. Take A Risk    


TEACHERS/MANAGERS/COACHES... We don't pick our players. 

Our job/calling/purpose:

Develop names on a roster into a team.


Our Expertise

Our Philosophy

Our Philosophy

  • Years ago, an audience member walked by the MLB team host and asked me, "Are you a REAL teacher?" I replied, “Would I be here if I wasn't?" She remarked, "Well, you never know with the ballclubs."

I am a real teacher with decades of experience. 


That story illustrates why expertise matters. Audiences expect players, performers, and presenters to provide value for their time and attention. 



Our Seminars

Our Philosophy

Our Seminars

  • There's an energy when teachers come together at your ballpark. Research shows that when two or more teachers attend, they insert Powerhitter® strategies into their Game Plan and engage their players!


  • Powerhitter® Seminars cover your academic bases during a comprehensive, 3hr seminar that engages participants, offers a cross-grade level cu

  • There's an energy when teachers come together at your ballpark. Research shows that when two or more teachers attend, they insert Powerhitter® strategies into their Game Plan and engage their players!


  • Powerhitter® Seminars cover your academic bases during a comprehensive, 3hr seminar that engages participants, offers a cross-grade level curriculum package, with take-home projects and activities that's  INTELLECTUALLY RICH, AND FUN. 

PRE-GAME INFO

LEARNING THE GAME

I'm lead off in the family lineup. My brothers arrived 5th and 6th in the order, so I accompanied my dad and male cousin to the ballpark. My petite eight-year-old self learned the game by observing on the field action, and listening to commentary of seasoned New York sports fans, seated near us in the field level boxes.They argued plays, calls, pitching, fielding, weather, opposing players, and management decisions. They spoke of baseball legends and the game's history.  I took it all in, never imagining, that their schooling would serve my future career.

STUDENTS INSTIGATED THE CURRICULUM

I taught at an all boy's school in Greenwich,CT for 12 years. During my first year, while teaching a literacy lesson at the board, one of my 2nd grade students initiated a baseball card trade. From the corner of my eye I observed the in-progress transaction: mint future HOFer Reggie Jackson for Dodger All-Star, Ron Cey.  Give him back the card, It's not a fair trade," I stated, then offered a detailed rationale with player stats, including Mr. October history in the World Series of hitting home runs and winning games.


  • But, eight-year-old Michael argued,"I almost had the card. What did you have to put your two cents in for? And besides, You're a girl what do you know about baseball?" Silence permeated the room. Stunned by the insult, I eventually managed a response,"You guys will see what I know about baseball - tomorrow."


  • On the drive home I considered why they assumed that girls/women didn't know sports. More importantly, I reflected on how and what I was pitching – I mean, teaching.


  • The next day, every required curriculum skill, subject, standard, and concept was taught through baseball. The materials developed for that class, were a hit, boosted test scores, concept understanding, and content retention and were adapted to other sports. 


  • (photo: Team Shirt Bulletin Board &Trip to Shea Stadium) 


TEACHING TEACHERS

Len Coleman former National League President, MLB Director of Marketing, and Executive Director Emeritus of the Jackie Robinson Foundation posed a question still key to youth development today; "How do we reach the kids?" My immediate response,"You reach the kids through their teachers." 


Len arranged for The Phillies (NL) and Orioles (AL) fan and community development personnel to meet us in NY, worked out logistics and  MLB paid my expenses and consulting fee. 


Phillies' seminar, scheduled for mid-March in the visiting clubhouse, attracted over 100 teachers. I offered specific content activities (Idioms at the Ballpark/Uniform # Math) and shared, "We don’t pick our players. Teachers & coaches transform names on a roster into a team."


Attendees urged The Phillies to bestow an official team hat on me - the teach with baseball educator - and they did. I stood on the pitcher's mound wearing the hat, and I was beaming!  


Sr. Trudy, principal of Christ the King School, shared a compliment on the way out, "Yes,You really are a teacher,” and her schoo hosted the Powerhitter seminar the following yesl.(photo above at her school attended by 150 teachers).  


I was hired by Major League Baseball to present seminars for teachers in American and National League Stadiums. The teachers wanted more

and I created curriculum materials (enough for entire classes), that were mailed to every teacher who signed the attendance roster. Teachers received  CEU's (continuing education units) for the professional development seminar. 


Sponsors are eager to support this sports-themed education outreach. They remember an inspiring teacher or coach who believed in them… even when they didn’t believe in themselves. 


BIC, RYDER, ADVANTA, PEMCO, 

ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, SODEXO/MARRIOTT and GENERAL ELECTRIC supported the seminar and/or student materials.


ABOUT Dr. V

  • Barbara Torre Veltri earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University. Her dissertation was developed into a book, published in 2010, Learning on Other Peoplels' Kids: Becoming a Teach For America Teacher. 


  • Powerhitter® Classroom offered as a 3-6 credit graduate & undergraduate level course at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. and Arizona State University. 


  • As a tenured professor, teacher educator, author, and researcher, Dr Veltri supported teachers (including TFA) who benefited from a centers-based approach to teaching diverse student populations in grades 3-8 and Special Education 4-8. The program's unique sports-themed content appeals to students across every social class.


  • Educational Consultant, Major League Baseball Teams 


  • Copyright owner (18) sports-themed educator curricula, math/literacy student booklets, classroom charts, assessments.
  • Trademark owner 10) kid-friendly, sports’ character/logos registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 
  • Domain owner (1) www.powerhitter.com and (2) www.sportsballkids.com 


  • Created Curriculum, Student Materials, and Professional Development Course for fully-funded, multi-year 21st Century Grants through university/district LEAs. Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey Grant is named in honor of the NY Congresswoman, who viewed Powerhitter® summer-program on-site at the Edison School in Port Chester, NY and met Dr. Veltri.


CV BARBARA TORRE VELTRI 24 (pdf)

Download

Photo Gallery

Phoenix 6th Graders discuss Team Geography/Weather

Associate Education Professor in my office 

Teaching 150 Philadelphia area Teachers hosted by local Catholic School 1995.

Presenter at MLB AllStar Game 


Presenter of Researcher at ECER International Conference 

Powerhitter® Game Day Movement, Math, Literacy @ MLB All Star Fan Fest  

With Teacher, Principal, and Phillies' Rob Holiday visiting 4th grade classroom

With Sharon Robinson at MLB All Star Fan Fest 

What's Your Classroom Managing Style? are you a power over, under, to,or with?Photo:The Native American Grant Schools Association Symposium 160 educators reflected on their coaching style and how to use sports curriculum in their game plan. 

TIPS FROM THE COACH

Sports offer global, economic, social and cultural appeal. Rules are clear and consistent. Every field, arena, or court has defined boundaries, and every sport ball is simple in form, but unique in size.


Every academic discipline can be taught through a sports-theme, in any school, in any country across the globe. I know, because I've field-tested this program with kids across the U.S. and with colleagues internationally. 


The curriculum content and program philosophy, of players/coaches/teams is readily transferred into one's own life. Do we work towards our personal best? Do we focus on the Game Day today? Do we take a risk, or do wait to get waved ahead by a coach? Do we trust our gut when we're in a slump to get out of it, or do we need input from a teammate or manager? When is it our call to maintain our 'batting stance" that offered us prior success? 


Sports' themes connect to academic disciplines with real-life applications. Kids buy stuff, travel, and sustain injuries - so do players. One of the Powerhitter® centers, Equipment Manager aligns with math operations & measurement standards, as "players" record sizing data prior to ordering supplies.  Can you really measure the span of your dominant hand (for a batting glove or mitt) by yourself? You need a teammate!


The Powerhitter® game plan offers real-world economics, too. Kids "get" advanced concepts, from supply chain, to unit pricing, to taxes. Students understand, retain, and apply advanced concepts and knowledge within a thematic curriculum that infuses the excitement of sports into learning. 


Kids retain, and apply knowledge when they are motivated, interested, have fun, and relate to what they are learning. Powerhitter® Classroom Programs successfully blend social, academic, and recreational fundamentals with sports-themed enrichment and  projects.


Set up is easy and teachers and players can follow the game plan as it works for their team.  


Powerhitter® offers a proven game plan, materials, academic and movement curriculum, teammate philosophy, and enrichment for all learners. No need to reinvent a game plan that's fun and gets results! Classroom coaches find a ready-make program. Just set up 36 Centers around the room or on display boards, cut up specific center cards, copy student reproducibles, read the teacher's guide and your are in the game.  Teachers: adjust to "players" needs. (Use Math centers if you teach Math/ use all centers if you teach all subjects. Some centers require weekly or daily completion. 


Dr. Veltri and her team are available to: 

Coach teachers, administrators, and homeschool communities, 

Consult with teams/professional athletes' foundations to reach kids through their teachers.

Create educational age-appropriate materials aligned with team/community/ goals

Collaborate with districts/universities/community organizations on grant applications 

Concentrate on catching up elementary/middle schoolers (from Cov-id recidivism/learrning loss 

Communicate rationale for teaching with baseball (economic, global, cultural)

Connect with bi-lingual educators/scholars who recognize Baseball's Global appeal.


YES! For over 30 years, Dr. Veltri, a career educator, has offered an assist to teachers, coaches, administrators, principals, universities, teams, foundations, non-profits, and media who believe in kids and are passionate about sports. 


Powerhitter® Educator Seminars supported rookie and veteran teachers at four universities, across 7 MLB teams, school districts in metro Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, New York, (Scarsdale, Port Chester (NY), Stamford (CT), Salt River, Casa Blanca, Hopi and Navajo Indian Communities.






Copyright © 2024  Barbara Torre Veltri, Ed. D. 

PowerhitterLLC  www.powerhitter.com.

Powerhitter® and Sportsballkids® characters and video are trademarked protected with USPTO. All rights reserved. 

CONTACT US:Drbarb@powerhitter.com

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  • TEACH WITH BASEBALL
  • OUR STORY
  • STUDENT MATERIALS
  • WHAT RESEARCH TELL US
  • OUR PROGRAM IN ACTION
  • SPORTSBALLKIDS

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