Burgess - Teach like a pirate : increase student engagement, boost your creativity, and transform your life as an educator

TEACH LIKE A PIRATE

Teach Like a PIRATE

2012 by Dave Burgess

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Published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
San Diego, CA
http://daveburgess.com

Cover and Interior Design by Imagine! Studios, LLC www.artsimagine.com

Cover Photos: iStockPhoto.com, Flickr.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012914927
ISBN: 978-0-9882176-0-7

First Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. Printing: September 2012

CONTENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to the following people who were instrumental on my journey to create this book:

My wife, Shelley, for serving as a constant reminder that administrators and teachers are on the same team. You can read her amazing thoughts on educational leadership at http://shelleyburgess.com.

My children, Hayden and Ashlyn, for dealing with a distracted father while this was being written and for offering the opportunity to see school from a parents perspective. Id love for you to visit my daughters blog at http://ashlynburgess.com.

My parents, Ann and Bill, for not only being great educators, but also for supporting me along the twists and turns that led to my current path.

My inner circle of educational linchpins: Dan McDowell, Reuben Hoffman, and John Berray.

My officemate, Jarrod Carman, for dealing with the ruckus and for the hundreds of office-walk conversations.

Billie Fogle, a special education teacher extraordinaire and my first period team-teacher for sixteen consecutive years and counting.

Bryan Ross, my colleague, friend, and Department Chair who encouraged an environment that honors individual expression in the classroom. I have made three significant career moves in my life; he has been instrumental in all three.

I built a publishing dream team to bring this book to fruition. Much thanks and gratitude to:

Erin Casey (http://erin-casey.com): My amazing editor who so beautifully polished my words while absolutely maintaining my voice.

Kristen and Joe Eckstein (http://ultimatebookcoach.com): They took my vision for the cover and interior design of this book and wonderfully brought it to life.

Penny Sansevieri (http://amarketingexpert.com): Her marketing advice and book launch campaign has helped me significantly expand the reach of my message.

INTRODUCTION

I ve spent the past few years of my life traveling from conference to conference and school to school, dressed as a pirate.

I get some odd looks. But thats OK. Im a teacher. Getting odd looks is part of the job.

I am on a crusade to spread the message of Teach Like a PIRATEa system that can, like a treasure map, guide you to the reward of total transformation of your classroom and your life as an educator. In my book, thats worth a few odd looks.

Teach Like a PIRATE is part inspirational manifesto and part practical roadmap. My hope is that it will lead you to become more passionate, creative, and fulfilled in your role as a teacher. At the same time, my goal is to help you create an inviting, engaging, and most importantly, empowering classroom climate.

So why a pirate? After all, we dont want teachers who attack and rob ships at sea. Teaching like a pirate has nothing to do with the dictionary definition and everything to do with the spirit. Pirates are daring, adventurous, and willing to set forth into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success. They reject the status quo and refuse to conform to any society that stifles creativity and independence. They are entrepreneurs who take risks and are willing to travel to the ends of the earth for that which they value. Although fiercely independent, they travel with and embrace a diverse crew. If youre willing to live by the code, commit to the voyage, and pull your share of the load, then youre free to set sail. Pirates dont much care about public perception; they proudly fly their flags in defiance. And besides, everybody loves a pirate.

That description of the pirates spirit sounds exactly like the kind of character we need more of in education. In these challenging and changing times, our students need leaders who are willing to venture forward without a clear map to explore new frontiers. We need mavericks and renegades who are willing to use unorthodox tactics to spark and kindle the flame of creativity and imagination in the minds of the young. We need entrepreneurial innovators who are capable of captaining the educational ship through waters that are rough and constantly changing. In short, we need pirates...we need you.

Teach Like a PIRATE is divided into three parts:

PART I: TEACH LIKE A PIRATE

This is the heart of the PIRATE system and philosophy. It is divided into six chapters, one chapter for each letter of the word.

PassionYou know youre supposed to be passionate about your job as a teacher. This chapter explains how to feel passionate, even if the subject youre teaching isnt all that exciting to you.

ImmersionIts easy to shout directions from the safety of the sidelines, but the safe approach isnt the most effective one. To really engage your students you must be immersed in the moment. Youll learn in this chapter why your class needs your full attention.

RapportGetting to know your students on a personal level, showing them they are more than just a grade, and giving them a safe, fun environment sets the stage for learning. This chapter offers ideas on how to build rapport naturally and authentically so you can connect with your students.

Ask and AnalyzeComing up with creative ideas begins by asking the right questions. Making sure those ideas connect with your audience requires constant analysis and openness to feedback. This chapter will help you ask and analyze better so you can be a more creative and effective teacher.

TransformationIf you feel as though youre constantly hitting roadblocks with your students, maybe its time to transform your expectations for whats possible in the classroom. This chapter explains how to reframe your subjectfor yourself and your studentsso you can break down those barriers.

EnthusiasmAbove all, enthusiasm is the most powerful tool in the classroom. This chapter explains why you must use it freely. Youll also learn how to ramp up your enthusiasm so your last class of the day receives the same high-impact lesson as your first class.

PART II: CRAFTING ENGAGING LESSONS

Are you tired of trying to talk over students who seem bent on ignoring you? This section will help you engage them and magnetically pull them into your lesson. In this crash course on designing presentations youll find captivating hooks you can add to your content, as well as brainstorming questions to help you generate unbelievably engaging ideas for your lessons and skyrocket your creativity. The questions will spur you to think outside the box, and the applications give you some immediate and practical experience for implementing the creative process.

PART III: BUILDING A BETTER PIRATE

Before you set sail, youll want to read these final instructions. In this section youll find the reassurance and guidance needed to ensure that you reach your final destination and receive a treasure worthy of the voyage.