Learn Like A Pirate

I just finished Learn Like A Pirate by Paul Solarz and my mind is spinning. It was full of such GREAT information. I bought and read Learn Like A Pirate with my end goal in mind - a Student Led classroom. I want students to be independent thinkers and learners. I want students to be solution people, not problem people. This came to be from the learned helplessness that was abundant in my classroom last year (see Freedom to Fail blog post).

This upcoming school year, and for all the school years after, I will focus on improvement and welcome failure. I believe that I did this before; however, my biggest mistake was not conveying this message to students and teaching them to believe it and live it.

I have used and abused my trusty highlighter when reading this book. I also went through a pile of post-its and a notebook full of scribbles about all of the key points. This blog is my reflection on what will I change in my classroom for the upcoming school year.

1. Give Me Five - I will empower all students to be equal parts in our classroom by allowing them to signal (raising their hand) and get the attention of their classmates by saying, "Give me five," when they want the attention of the entire class. I will teach students that this is a privilege. We must respect when other students are talking (silence our mouths, freeze our bodies). This is not to be used in specials (art, music, PE, etc.) or with substitute teachers. I will express great appreciation to students who use it correctly. When students interrupt at inopportune times, I will use it as a teachable moment.

2. Daily Goal - At the end of each day, students will write in their daily planners and reflect on their own behaviors - were they safe, respectful, and responsible? We will also set a goal for the next day. What can we do better as a class?

3. Strategies for Dealing with Conflict - Last year, it seemed that there were always students running up to me. I consistently asked students if they were "tattling" or "reporting". We went over the differences between the two in depth, multiple times throughout the school year.  Solarz gives three strategies to teach students to resolve conflict on their own:

• Rock-Paper-Scissors: When someone HAS to win or be right, break it down to a good old fashioned game of rock-paper-scissors.
• Compromise: Take ideas from each person and figure out a solution using both. For example, two students are working together, Sophia and Natalie. Sophia wants to search for information on a website and Natalie wants to search for information in the library. They are instructed to work together. Compromise - do both! One will have to be done first, but figure it out! It is a win-win situation for all involved.
• Be Kind: Truly think about what the other person wants to do. If it is a good idea, do it!

4. Silent Day - Tell the kids that they are working towards a goal: Silent Day. For Silent Day, I will be quiet the entire day. I will not say a word. I will not bless someone when they sneeze, I will not say thank you - nothing! In order to do this, they will need to practice throughout the school year and show me that they can make decisions and handle things as responsibly and independently as possible.

Solarz also gave plenty of other great instructional strategies to implement. I am excited and focused on beginning the school year teaching the kids what a student-led classroom is and how we will become one!