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.