Teach Like a Pirate

Dave Burgess' book Teach Like a Pirate, is a game changer for sure. Confession, I am reading another book at the same time, so I am only halfway through Pirate, but I couldn't wait to reflect about it. 

One of the powerful messages in this book is that anyone can be creative with some hard work. I have always been a very creative teacher, but I definitely have to ask the right questions about my objectives for lessons in order to start the creativity process. Zooming in on real life connections to your lessons is really addicting! 

My theatre background means I am able to entertain, but I don't think that is the most important part of being creative. Even the most reserved teacher can plan engaging lessons that get students jazzed about learning. Burgess explains in detail how to ask questions that lead to  dynamic ideas. 

I read this Marlon Brando quote on Facebook last night and I felt it was very fitting to what Burgess believes:

Your figurative language unit has begun. You are driving in the car and you hear a new, popular Katy Perry song filled with metaphors. Pull over and write it down or tell it to Siri! Burgess emphasizes the importance of having a simple way of capturing ideas when they come to you. He uses a Mac Air. I use my IPhone and small spirals. The small spirals are my old way of capturing my ideas for writing and teaching, and old habits die hard. I have one on the coffee table in the living room, one on my desk at home, one in my car and one in my purse. Now, I also use the notes app on my IPhone. I have the other apps that are out there, Evernote, Everythink, etc. However, for me, this process is a stream of consciousness and simply starting a new note within my notes app works best for me. I do use My Writing Spot for my screenplay/story ideas. Great app!

I also loved the metaphor that Burgess used about not being a lifeguard, be a swimmer. I will admit that when it is a busy time of year, I sometimes sit at my desk and correct an essay or two while kids are working on their writing, for example. I always felt guilty doing it too. Kids knew they could come to me at any time to ask questions, etc., but I was not fully engaged. My pledge from now on is to always be a swimmer, in the pool with my students, not a lifeguard watching from a far. Getting rid of my desk is a great start!

Thanks Dave Burgess for your book. I can't wait to read the rest of it. 

April Vacation

I never fully take a vacation. Most teachers don't. We take a few days to relax and maybe even go somewhere. We sleep in if that is what we like, go see movies and set our own schedules. However, most of us don't turn off our teacher.

For instance, when I was recently in Newport, R.I. and saw rocks that were beautifully layered, I took multiple pics so I could have my science classes discern what kind of rock they are seeing. This is an easy, real world review of what they have learned and many teachers do this while they are vacationing. I also took pictures of the tide pools and cliff areas to review ecosystems and weathering/erosion. Showing a picture and having the students just write what they see using science vocabulary never gets old.

Because I do this, some of my students through the years have adopted the same habit. They come in after a vacation with rocks or shells they collected "for class" or with pictures they took with our science class in mind. I hope they maintain their wonder wherever they go!

This same kind of obsession, never turning off my "teacher mind," like many teachers, does not end with just science class. I am working on developing a figurative language unit and have had to pull over while driving to write down a song title or lyric that demonstrates a figure of speech. There are so many!

I am online regularly finding better ways to present difficult concepts to students. It never ends. By the way, if you are an educator and have not checked out Pinterest...get on that!!!!

Looking forward to my honeymoon in Hawaii this summer. I know I will come back relaxed, tan, and full of great experiences/photos, etc. to apply to my classroom.