Week 9: Becoming a PIRATE and finding your crew

School is starting for many of us, so I feel it is best to wrap up this book study before school kicks off.  The last 2 parts of the book gets into the meat of the PIRATE method of teaching.  Part 2 giving numerous hooks to use with you students and Part 3 is converting your classroom to be PIRATEd.  I hope you all will enjoy the last parts of the book.  I know I have again.

Part 2

 So many hooks and presentation suggestions were given.  I am no longer a classroom teacher, but I plan on using many of these hooks in my professional development that I will run at my new district.  Using music, to art work, to the magic and amazing outcomes, I could see how I can use these hooks to engage fellow teachers about technology tools and management.  I have read and head many times that technology does not take the place of good teaching and that technology is only a tool to accent teaching, either for the worse or better.  So increasing my presentation skills is not about finding that one web tool, app, or device, but using hooks, smooth transitions and selling the need.  This coming Thursday I will be teaching the high school staff about using iPads to accent their teaching.  Using a kinesthetic hook with a QR scavenger hunt, energy filled music to set the stage, and the Picasso hook to show off drawing apps for any discipline I hope to introduce my new colleagues what it is to be a PIRATE.  I look forward to trying these hooks out and perfecting the art of presentation with them and any model lesson I get the opportunity to do.  What are some hooks or presentation pointers that spark your interest? How have you used these before in your class?  I agree with Dave, it is about the question.  If you ask the right question: “How can my kids move while learning?” “What can they draw/create to review their learning?”  “How can I build this lesson into a competition?” then the engagement will come easy to any lesson. 

Part 3

It is okay to beat your own drum.  I remember reading a blog post from RafranzDavis about this.  If we are not telling our story, then how will anything change?  The most feared pirate had the strongest crew.  They did not have to recruit this crew, but the crew came to them.  The same will go with you.  Find that one teacher that you collaborate with best.  Get them to buddy up with you as you both go into uncharted waters.  You will both be there to support each other, and cheer each other on.  We all need a partner in education.  It is a hard job, and only becomes harder when you are trying to change the norm.  I noticed on the twitters that many of you have already got that partner.  That is awesome, and one of my main loves of Twitter.  But if you haven’t, it’s okay.  I bet there are many teachers out there.  Those are the ones sitting at their desk, asking “Is there a better way?”.  You will notice them, they come in with a spark in their eyes at the beginning of the year, but this spark dies as the year progresses.  Or they will be the one that the kids are calling different, weird, and expect something of them.  That is who you want on your crew.  Throw a suggested lesson, hook, or mystery guest you want to bring to your room.  You never know it might be “the start of something beautiful.”  So start the year off with this in mind.  What is your biggest fear?  Is it failure, perfectionism, figuring it all out, focus, criticism?  If you have any of these, I do too.  We will change, and when we change it will cause a larger change around us.  I know I have said it before, but I cannot say enough of Twitter.  When I am having my fears there are many that are there to support me.  Search the #tlap, #sstlap, #scitlap on Twitter, and find an entire world of helpful Pirates. If Twitter isn’t your “thing”, try out any social media platform.  Facebook has whole groups of supportive teachers, Google Plus has large communities of inspirational and innovative teachers, Pintrest has about a million and a half ideas of using these hooks in your classroom. 

So there you go.  What hooks will you start your year off with?  How will your teaching change?  How will your presentations be smoother and more engaging?  What is it that is stopping you from starting?  Send out your answers in all the normal places using the #SummerTLAP on Twitter, in the comments below or the Google Form.  It has been a blast having you all join me in this study.  I look forward to continuing to hear from you all.

WISD people fill out your Google Form, if you haven’t done them all, and I will turn your names into the people there.

Good luck and have fun!  Aaargh!

Week 8: Enthusiasm - It's contagious.

The final chapter of Part One ends the book like it begins.   Enthusiasm.  As Dave says it is one of the main columns of teaching like a pirate with Passion.  Setting new course to uncharted areas, and striking out on your own and letting others follow your wake.  Keeping your enthusiasm from beginning of the school day to the end of the school day can be one of the most challenging pieces of teaching.  Finding a way to keep this enthusiasm, can be just as important as knowing your content.  It could be teaching about planar trigonometry or the proper use of commas, it is enthusiasm that will keep your students on your side.  I know from my experience, it was the days that I was most tired were the days the students would recall at the end of the year.  If it was from jumping off lab tables showing the whoosh of the H+ gradient to produce ATP, or making the students march along to an Acid Base Cadence, students were eating off the energy I was expending.

So how is it that you keep your own enthusiasm?  How do you produce the same mystifying tricks and exploding lessons every period of the day?  I have a couple ways that I pull enthusiasm from.  First I think of this:

Yes this is Scripture, but go with me on this one.  I take this to say this.  Every thing you do, a new day, a new period, a new lesson, a new 10 minutes is brand new.  If that is the case then every brand new event deserves the same effort and enthusiasm of the last event.
Secondly, music is a huge motivator for me.  Different types of music, will effect me differently.  I would not say that I have one song that gets me the most enthusiastic, but an eclectic mix of music.  I primarily try to bring in music my students have not heard of before.  Lots of Indie Pop, Beatles, and even Classical Rock.  Put on something like this before a lesson,

here, and I am ready to go.

So how is it that you keep your enthusiasm?  What music, thoughts, or images keep your fire alive?  Share it out, then continue to spread the enthusiasm.  Like Dave said, after you have found a way to keep your enthusiasm, be patient zero.  Start an enthusiasm virus that spreads, and will not stop.  The students will not know that hit them.  The culture of the school will change, and those that are not willing to jump on board will stick out.  Those teachers then will either have to join the crew of passionate, immersed, enthusiastic pirates or walk to plank and be marooned on their own island.

Share out your ideas, create a sign, post your favorite pick me up songs.  Be sure to include the hashtag #SummerTLAP in your tweets and posts.  As always, here is the Google Form for WISD employees.  If you have gotten behind, that is okay.  Just catch up, and you are still a part of this crew.

Finally, one last note.  The second part of the book is all about the how of teaching like a PIRATE.  Next week I am going to want you to post your favorite hook(s) or idea(s) that you have pulled from the book.  So keep reading, and look forward to reading your thoughts. It has been wonderful to be on this journey with you all.

Week 6: Transformation - Edutainment? or Students Wanting to be In Class?

A letter to my teacher ...

https://youtu.be/PBHU6BQZYbM

When Dave shared with us his letter, this what I though my letter would be from one of my students.  I am not saying that I am successful in all of the things listed in the video, most days I am not even close, but I feel some days I get it right.  Some of the things I said in the, I have heard from my former students.  Days like that make me smile, it makes it worth the long hours and heart tearing care I strive for.  I don't want to sound like a I am blowing my own horn, but more of reminder.  These are the things I think about when I get down after an incredibly hard day.  I try to get back to that point, where my students would do anything it takes to be in my classroom that next day.  I will completely scrap a lesson plan the night, more like the morning, before to make a lesson that could be labeled in the "edutainment" category.

What would you want to see in your student's letter?  What is your goal for you classroom?  Would a student want to pay to be taught by you?  I challenge you to write this letter.  Write down you direction, your ending location of all your students.  Start with just a few words.  What few words is that students would use to describe your class?

Once you have written this letter, share it out.  If you don't want to share the whole letter, at least share out your words that you want your students to use to describe your classroom.  Be sure to use the hashtag #SummerTLAP .  I look forward to see the responses.  Here is the Google Form for WISD employee, or whomever would like to submit.

Week 5: Ask and Analyze - Creativity in the Most Unlikely Places

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. " from Rolad Dahl, of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame, wrote this in the very last line of his book The Minpins.  In the book Little Billy finds a hidden world, after he risks his safety.  I think relates to what Dave is talking about when he says, " 'Safe' lessons are the recipe for mediocrity at best."  This is a part of building rapport with your students as well.  You all had some other great suggestions as well.

On Twitter:

15-Jul-2015

Rapport: Be Real. Students need to know that you shop at Walmart just like everyone else. #SummerTLAP

Jordan Bernard @JBernardTeach

14-Jul-2015

The other most important thing is I tell Ss it doesn't matter what they have done in the past, new year, new class, new chance #SummerTLAP

Kristin Grace @KGravey13

13-Jul-2015

In the first few days of school I also let my Ss learn about me too! My fears, hopes, dreams & passions. @patrickreid28 #SummerTLAP

Kristin Hicks @10Hicks2

Also in the Comments and Google Form:

"About Me Circles as a "name tag" on their journals. I feel like starting off the school year getting a personal connection with my students helps maintain a good rapport throughout the school year." - C. Colwell

"building excitement about what we will do in class, and playing welcome games." - L. Minton

Great suggestions, thanks for sharing.

For this week I want to challenge you to develop your system of note-taking.  I started out with the note card and pen in my pocket.  It was amazing how ideas started flowing when there was medium for the ideas to be recording.  Most of them were very abstract, and not good at all, but they were a great jumping off point for starting my planning for this past year.  I did try some note taking apps on my phone.  Both Google Docs and Google Keep worked well for me.  If you have never used Google Keep, it is almost like sticky notes for your phone.  You can color code your thoughts, make lists, and even take pictures.

So what will be your note-taking strategy to put yourself within the Law of Attraction?  How will you put yourself into the mindset of find those light-bulb moments?  Do not fall victim of you the "Six Words".  As the #YouMatter movement states

#sketchnotes via @jmattmiller

Share out your thoughts, share a picture of your notes.  Be sure to use the #SummerTLAP so we can all learn together.  As always here is the submission Google Form for WISD employees.