Teach Like A Pirate

Part 1 of Teach Like a Pirate is divided into 6 sections: Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transformation, and Enthusiasm. Passion can be divided into content passion, professional passion and personal passion. A teacher who is fully immersed in the moment has a special type of intensity that resonates with great power in the classroom, regardless of the activity. Building rapport is all about interacting with your students as fellow human beings, not just subordinates. Rapport is important because it helps create buy-in. Ask and Analyze says that if you consistently ask questions that lead to creative and outside-the-box thinking, your mind will provide you with creative and outside-the-box answers. The Honda Odyssey example is so true! Transformation deals with reframing. A teachers job is to create a mental paradigm shift by reframing the content and its value and relevancy to their lives. Enthusiasm is contagious. Your attitude carries with it your single most powerful tool to influence your classroom. Part 2 of Teach Like a Pirate discusses crafting engaging lessons. I learned many ideas from Dave Burgess’ hooks. I liked “Move It, Move It”. It encourages kinesthetic activities in the classroom. We do a lot of music and movement in Kindergarten. I have also used the “People Prop” hook by having groups make human letters with their bodies. (ex: making the letter A by laying on the floor) The “Picasso” hook is used frequently in Kindergarten by having student illustrate the sentence or math problem. I use the “Mozart” hook almost daily. The kids love the “Apple Annie” songs and associate the sounds with the songs when trying to read and write. The “Storytelling” hook is awesome in Kindergarten. Kids love it when I speak in character, use accents, change intonations and vary volume for effect. Johanna Iken has the hook perfected! Part 3 of Teach Like a Pirate discusses “Building a Better Pirate”. I loved the Play your Drum analogy. When someone is engaged in pursuing one’s passion and offering the very personal gift of doing what he does best, the person is undeniable and clear to all. Forget about all of the things you can’t control and play your drum to the best of your abilities.