Learn Like A Pirate Chapter 8

I am blogging about Chapter 8 in this amazing book about Student Led Classrooms written by Paul Solarz. If you do not have this book, click on the book below and it will bring you to Amazon! Buy this book, I promise you, you won't be disappointed!!!

Paul Solarz is discussing the importance of empowerment! The importance of Passion! It al starts with the classroom environment! Be honest with kids. Create an environment where they are safe, safe physically, emotionally and safe to take risks!

So what is Passion Time? Passion Time is when the kids can work on a research project or something that they feel passionate about. Paul mentions Maker Spaces and I couldn't agree more. Maker Spaces are amazing. These allow the students to create and explore! These spaces are what puts grins and excitement back into education.  Paul had an after school club for maker Space but since I teach First Grade and really can not have an after school club, I will be having a Maker Space area in my classroom where they can explore on Fridays!!!

What does passion ignite in kids? 

I have created a sign that I will be hanging on my door for those who enter during Passion Time. Feel free to download it if you would like!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post! This is a book that I recommend all educators read at some point during their career! I absolutely loved it! It has provided this 22 year veteran teacher some awesome ideas to implement into my classroom!!!

Learn Like a Pirate Chapter 7

This has got to be one of the most inspiring books I have read in a long time. I am sad to say that this book study is almost over.  Paul Solarz has written an amazing book that I recommend all teachers read at some point of their career. I know Student Led sounds scary but the way Paul Solarz has written and explained this concept, any teacher can implement this in their classroom in one form or another.

Well enough of my rambling, let's discuss Chapter 7, Twenty First Century Skills!

First I love all the quotes that he writes at the beginning of each chapter. This one is so inspiring!

He starts the chapter off discussing how he thought he had to teach, that the content standards were the end all do all of his teaching. But as he taught on, he realized that he needs to teach the kids how to communicate and work collaboratively and cooperatively. This is where the twenty first Century skills come in. Now many believe that these skills are all technologically based! This is not true. As a matter of fact, very few of these skills are technologically based!

There are pages upon pages of these skills in this book! I will only list a few. 

These are just a few of these skills! Knowing them is not enough! Teaching them and the students internalizing them is what our goal is. 

How do we do this???? 

1.Through feedback, positive, immediate, constructive!

2. Reflection- both teachers and students

3. Progress Report-  A report that gives the skills a score of 1 to 10. Great communication for parents.

4. Make Math meaningful- teach them perseverance, problem solving, many of the twenty first century skills are focused on in math block.

Our goal as educators is to create high functioning citizens that will be productive and successful in society. This can not be done by just teaching the content standards. We need to teach the twenty first century skills as well.

As usual, this was another informative and awesome chapter!

An InLinkz Link-up

Learn Like A Pirate Book Study

I am linking up for Chapter 6 of Learn Like a Pirate with The Primary Gal! This book just keeps getting better and better!

I love this quote that Paul Solarz wrote at the beginning of Chapter 6- Active Learning!

As we all know or at least should know is that our students learn best by doing. We as teachers need to make learning fun! Now when we say fun, we do not mean just do activities because we think they are fun. There needs to be lessons to be learned and material that is meaningful. 

When students participate in activities, they learn more and they are not afraid to take on other roles in the classroom. 

How can we s teachers make learning more fun? This chapter gives us many great tips!

1. Stimulate thinking with Simulations: Create experiences. Don't just teach about the Ocean- teach as if you are at the ocean. Be an oceanographer! 

2. Teach using Debates- Get them involved- let them show their passion! This will definitely increase their leaning of the topic!

3. Have a Fair- Science Fairs, Math Fairs, STEM or STEAM fairs- this is a great way to get them involved as well as their families

4. Project Based Learning- 

5- Integrate Technology

6- Readers Theater 

The school day should be fun for the students and for you. Always make sure that your lessons are active, meaningful and collaborative!

Click on the pirate to go see what some other educators have to say about this awesome chapter!

Learn Like a Pirate Book Study Chapter 3

I am linking up with the Primary Gal for her book study of Learn like a Pirate by Paul Solarz!

As many of you know I am an avid advocate and believer in the whole Teach Like a Pirate philosophy so when I saw this book study, i was like YES!!!!

I had the privilege of going and hearing David Burgess make his philosophy and book come to life and that is where I saw this awesome book!

Dave Burgess Teach Like A Pirate

If you do not have this book and would like to read it, click on the book below!

So here we go with Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is all about Peer Collaboration! It is very important to model and teach what you expect the students to do. There are many conflict resolution solutions that teachers should model and teach the students in order for the classroom to run smoothly and be a true student led classroom.

I love these quotes from the book:

Here are my take aways for this chapter!

Can Not wait until I finish reading Chapter 4!

Click on the picture below to go see what some other awesome educators have to say about this chapter!