I am so excited to be participating in this fabulous book study hosted by Jennifer and Gina!
Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess as been an amazing read and has inspired me to definitely channel my passion and enthusiasm into opportunities for life changing lessons!
In Part II of Teach Like a Pirate, Mr. Burgess addresses the art of crafting engaging lessons. As educators, we know the value of an engaged student. But what leads to that? What makes the students enthralled in what you are teaching...even if its something like fractions? What makes it interesting even when in any other situation they simple would not care?
It can be overwhelming but its reality.
If they aren't engaged, we have lost an educational opportunity.
BUT, like you, I won't have it!
We all know we should be engaging but as Mr. Burgess would say, it takes planning, preparation and presentation. Most of us feel extremely comfortable with the content that we teach and the different methods that can be used to impart that content but there is a critical part that might be forgotten.
Presentation.
I will be the first to tell you, the last class that I took before student teaching was public speaking. I was mortified. Public speaking scares me to death and I get really, really nervous! Like sweaty palm nervous! There was no way that I would have chosen a profession that would have asked me to do this.....ok, stop laughing....THAT IS TEACHING! We are public speakers...every....single....day!
When I read that I about fell out of my chair and then I decided to own it. I am a presenter every single day and with that I have to think about how that "presentation" will be given.
We give a lot of thought to how our lessons are written and the content that is taught. We make many decisions on how the lesson will delivered, activities that will be included, assessments that will be given all with the hope that when we present out lesson, in the hopes that it is AWESOME! But that's not enough. We have to work through the presentations, the delivery, the flow of the lesson and transitions along the way.
We also have to think about how we hook the students in what we are doing.
Mr. Burgess gives his readers an immense amount of diverse hooks that can be used to lure students into the lessons that are taught in our classroom.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Swimming With the Sharks Hook
This is definitely something that I have learned to use to my advantage in the last few years. I teach from just about every place I can in the classroom. Not only does my movement around the room hold on to my students attention but it also allows me to manage the behavior in my room.
Don't stand or sit in one spot for to long. Gradually work the room and engagement is the reward!
Think about it.
When you go to a training...don't you pay a more attention if the presenter is working the room? Lol...you know it works!
The Mime Hook
This one sounds fun to me and instantly grabbed my attention and I could think immediately of a way to implement it. You have seen the videos where someone is sending a message to the viewer by holding a series of cards that you must read as they flip?
Seriously!?! How awesome would that be to introduce students to a concept using the same idea?!? It's something that is familiar to them and in reading the cards are naturally engaged to read the cards before they are flipped! The possibilities are endless and I am excited just thinking about this hook!!
The Backwards Hook
I thought this was a great and highly reflective hook. Mr. Burgess relates this to CSI.
Could you start with the end and guide students to ask critical questions to explain the how and why of a concept. Imagine the conversations and the amazing thinking that would happen by simply changing the prospective that the material is presented in...end to beginning!
I can't say enough about this book!! I am in love!!
It's still early! Make it your summer read and you will start the new school year energized and ready to
TEACH LIKE A PIRATE !!
