Week 3: Immersion - Be there, and that is the only place you need to be

Do you remember these?

Photo Credit: chwalker01

This one is from Flikr, but they were a part of a whole series of books called Magic Eye where images were to pop out from the pages.  What did you see in this one? I could never get those to work.  I was not one of the cool kids to have the image pop out at me, to where I would jump back.  To be able to do these you had to fully engage yourself into the process of extracting the image.  You had to stop all other processes and focus just on bring the image out.  This is just like Dave Burgess is talking about on the second point of PIRATE

Immersion

For the rest of this post I decided to do something a little different, I made a vlog (video blog) about this topic.  So please watch, think, and then respond.  Remember you can respond via a tweet, the comments below, or via this Google Form.  Be sure to include the #SummerTLAP so that we can all see your thoughts. Secondly, if you are a WISD employee the form must be completed. 

Good luck, I look forward to hearing and learning from you all.  

P.S. The image was supposed to be a shark, I couldn't see it but may someone did.

Week 2: Passion - You've got several, now use them.

I hope you all are enjoying the book and get some great ideas about how you want to set your class on a exciting and engaging learning journey next year.  I have enjoyed engaging with you all and reading your one words.  This is such a great group of educators. If you have not completed last week's question, feel free to complete it first then move on.  Again, I am loving the responses and look forward to seeing and exploring more.

This weeks question is based on the first aspect of PIRATE

Photo Credit: Video Inspiration

So what it passion?  How will it help and why will this make you a better teacher and your students learn more?  Dave opens up the deep, dark secret that all of us hide.  We are afraid to speak it, but the only way to fix a problem is to lay out in the open.

NOT EVERYDAY I AM AT MY BEST. 

NOT EVERYDAY DO I HAVE PASSION WHAT I AM TEACHING. 

NOT EVERYDAY DO I FEEL MY BEST. 

So the question then remains what do we do when this happens?  What do we do when we are not feeling macro-molecules, and how they play an important roll in the entire scheme of life?  At this point, we have to move past our content passion to pull from our professional and personal passions.  As Dave encourages us to pursue "identifying, developing, and using all three of these categories" and even write down your answers.

This week is a multiple question week.  Feel free to post all your answers one at a time, all at once, or as you see fit.  Post them below in the comments, tweet them out, make an image and share it out, whatever moves you.  Use your passions, and show them off.  Here are the questions, I will send these out this week intermittently and look forward to your answers.

1.  We all passions in our specific content.  What is the one topic or lesson you love to do with your class? Why do you love it?

2.  Your Professional Passion will help you pull you through those less than interesting topics.  Why are you a teacher?  How can you bring this into your classroom?

3.  Finally, we all have Personal Passions.  These are the events and things we spend our time on when we are not i the classroom.  What are these for you?  Can you bring these passions into your classroom?  Do your students show these same passions?

There they are.  I will send these out as tweets throughout the week.  Answer them in any order you want, but please do answer all questions.  Here are mine:

"Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks."  -  Yo-Yo Ma

Here is the link to the Google Form once you find your passions https://goo.gl/5RRejv . Again, not necessary unless you are a WISD employee. Feel free to submit, even if you are not. 

Week 1: One Word of Teaching

Thank you to all that have signed up for the book study, and have decided to join me on this journey.  I look forward to learning with you and sharing in your discoveries, connections, and excitements.  It is a real treat for me to have YOU here.  

A quick note on how I am envisioning this working out.  I will have out a blog post every Sunday.  It will contain information about the next chapter or section in Teach Like a Pirate.  At the end of the post I will pose a starting question and/or challenge.  Your job is to respond to this post via the comment section or even better tweet it out using the #SummerTLAP.  I will respond to these tweets, as may any of you, to ask deeper or developing questions.  Any one may join in on any question or may ask any question.  As always be sure to add the #SummerTLAP to your question or answer, so that we may all find it and learn from it.  Waxahachie ISD employees, for you to get credit I will also have a Google Form at the very bottom of every post.  You will need to submit your answer via this Form for SBEC and non-contract hours credit.  

The First Official Post:  What is a PIRATE, and what is your One Word of Teaching?

Taking a quick look at the introduction Dave lays out what it means to be a Pirate.  He has a quick listing of what the acrostic PIRATE means, and how one plays the role of a pirate.  By doing this journey you have already proven that you have the pirate spirit.  You are brave enough to strike out on your own, you are willing to trying new things, and you know that a mighty crew can take you far.  

So well done, now let's try out that Pirate creativity.  Dave lists out what PIRATE stands for, as thus:

P - Passion

I - Immersion

R - Rapport

A - Ask and Analyze

T - Transformation

E - Enthusiasm

Starting Question:  What is the one word that would describe your teaching, or what one word should all teachers have as their mantra?  Tweet out your word, draw a picture of the word, make a video or song.  Share what it is that makes you a great teacher, because you have already proven to me to be a worthy Pirate in Training.

*Note: I am pulling this question from a previous learning series, #SummerLS via Todd Nesloney.  So I am not plagiarizing his work, but reusing as a great sign of flattery and respect.  Thanks, Todd.

So there you go, the first question and challenge before you.  Will you be up to the task?  I know there are some great teachers out there, so please share your great ideas.   I look forward to hearing from you.  Also, please spread the word.  Anyone can join in at anytime, and we all benefit from everyone being here.  The more aboard the more we learn.

Once you get done with your response and challenge please complete this Form https://goo.gl/CbzrAv Again, this is only required for WISD employees, but free to complete by all.

Pirate on,
Patrick Reid

#SummerTLAP Book Study of Dave Burgess Teach Like a Pirate

You ever go by a restaurant, see a park on the side of the road, or see a preview of a movie and think "Man, I would really like to do that" but never do.  That is the way I feel with Dave's book.  I have picked it several times, started reading, then got busy with life.  I really enjoyed the parts that I have read, but life is as it is.

Dave Burgess wrote the book Teach Like a Pirate.  In it he explains ways to bring passion and engagement into your classroom (TEDx Talk).  How to hook your students into learning without knowing they are learning.  Finding ways to get them to say, "Wait, the bell is about to ring? Do we have to stop?"  I have this sometimes in my class, but I want it all the time in my class.

So here is my proposal, if you want to hop on my ship this summer, and sail the seas with me, I would love to have you aboard.  We can make everyone accountable.  We can share our thoughts, ideas, struggles, successes, and thoughts.  Summer is a time for renewal, relaxation, and reflection.  Join me in using this as a map of our reflection, and come back as a mighty crew of daring, course setting, passionate, engagement exploding educators.  Make your administration question what you did this summer, and how he/she cause it to expand to the rest of your school.  

If you are interested, please fill out this form https://goo.gl/TYjpxg and look for a first email addressing the first question and thoughts.  I will use a slow chat system on Twitter.  I will try to get one question out every week.  Answer the question on Twitter with #SummerTLAP.  Use the Q1/A1 format so others can track and learn with you.  If you ever have any questions, or would like to help me with this voyage, please do not hesitate to email me or tweet me.  

Now,

Raise Anchor!

Loose the Sheets!

Set Sail to Adventure!

Patrick Reid

@patrickreid28

preidteacher@gmail.com