Learn Like a Pirate~Chapter 8

Awww, we're coming to a close of the Learn Like a Pirate book study with The Primary Gal!

We'll be talking about Empowerment today.

Empowerment is how we can get the students to take control of the classroom (some of which was mentioned in previous chapters), as well as how empowerment can get students excited for learning.

One way Paul does this is through Passion Time {also known as Genius Hour}, where students spend time in class working on their own projects.

If you put Genius Hour into the search bar on TPT, you'll come up with a bunch of resources to help you get started!

Paul also uses an acronym (sort of like a KWL, but better!) to help guide his students during the passion time project.

 There are other ways to bring empowerment to your students, through little things you allow them to do and take control of.

In order for these to work successfully, you need to truly believe in the process, and how you can empower your students.

There are definitely aspects of this that I am raring to go on-and some that require a little more thought :) .

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out in may classroom-and how the students react to it!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Learn Like A Pirate~Chapter 7

It's week 7 of the  Learn Like a Pirate book study with The Primary Gal!

Chapter 7 is about 21st Century Skills.
When I first saw the chapter title, I thought it would be all about technology and how we can use it.

Boy, was I wrong!

It's actually all about the social skills and character traits that students will need to succeed.

Paul has studied Partnership for 21st Century Learning, as well as Habits of Mind, mixed in his own experience, and blended it all together to create what he wants his students to practice and make their own.

This chapter was chock full of neat information-if you haven't bought the book yet, you really should. There's so much more there!

But for now, while you're waiting for your book to be delivered ;), these are the skills Paul focuses on in his classroom.

 

 

That's a lot of skills!

Paul also talks about the importance of reflection in this chapter, and how important it is for both teachers and students. 

We know as teachers how important it is for use to reflect-especially on our lessons-what went well, what didn't, how could we make it better, what things need to change, etc.

But it's also important to teach the students to reflect as well-it helps them be more aware as learners, as well as helping them make constant improvements to themselves.

Paul also does whole-class & individual goals and reflections-he uses his ePortfolios for this. 

He teaches his students to reflect using four easy (well, not easy!) steps.

1. Describe what happened {What did you do?}
2. Use one (or more) of these to focus on- Strengths/Weaknesses, Success/Setbacks, Hard/Easy {Leads the learner to look inward and really think about what happened}
3. What have you learned from this?
4. How has your learning improved?  How can you extend your learning past what's expected?

Using his students reflections, and his observations & feedback, he and the students put together a progress report to show their improvements-and to keep them accountable for these skills-since they're so important in life!

If you're curious about goal setting with your students 3rd Grade Thoughts has some great blog posts on the process.

This was a great, informative chapter! {This chapter also has some great info on how he runs his math block as well-like I said, you need to buy the book!} I'm excited to start some of these things in my class-we're going to take small steps. :)

I'll definitely be doing some goal setting next year (I'm thinking bimonthly goals, as well as a trimester goal), and we'll definitely be working on team work and collaboration.

What skills will you do with your students?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Learn Like a Pirate~Chapter 6

Welcome to week 6 of the Learn Like a Pirate book study with The Primary Gal!

Chapter 6 is about active learning.

What is active learning?

Well, when students are actively doing things in the classroom!

This chapter was chock full of great ideas.

These are just a few of the cool things you could do in your classroom.

One thing about technology though...

Don't just use it to use it! It needs to have a purpose and be the best tool for the job.

This chapter got me very excited for next year-I'm think of ways to have more active learning in my classroom!

There are still some things that I might do 'passively'-I LOVE doing lectures on the American Revolution-and the kids get pretty excited as well because of the fill-in-the-blank foldables (and because I'm bouncing around the room demonstrating (sometimes with their help) acting silly :).

I can also incorporate some 'active' strategies to make this unit even better! (You know, depending on time and testing...this year we didn't have a lot of time to cover it)

Even fitting in one or two active strategies can make a unit/day better!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Learn Like a Pirate~Chapter 5

It's Learn Like a Pirate week 5 with The Primary Gal!

Chapter 5 is about responsibility.

 Now, my students do have responsibility-through weekly jobs (I only have 5, and we rotate through), and class-wide expectations, but after reading this chapter I realized that they could have so much more.

Towards the end of the year, I started giving them more responsibilities-mostly because my allergies were wicked bad that week and I was losing my voice :)

They THRIVED! I had students running my calendar (which is not easy to run!), reteaching friends some topics, as well as taking some little jobs off my shoulders-like putting out pick-up notes.

I am so totally giving them more responsibility starting at the very beginning!

I'll definitely be emphasizing that we are a class family, and that everyone is responsible for making sure things get done. After all,

Another thing Paul talks about is Literature Circles-which is like the ultimate responsibility for kids!

I've done Literature Circles in the past (at a different school), and the kids really enjoyed getting their book choice and talking about the book.

I'd love to do something somewhat similar this year, but we do guided reading, and my teammates (so far), like to meet with every group every day (that they can-our G&T kids only meet a once or twice due to timing). Which I so totally do not agree with (alas, I'm the lone ranger on this one, and have been outvoted in previous years).

However, we're getting a new principal (our old one was very insistent on meeting everyday), so that may change. PLUS, we have a ton more kids than we normally have (it's a bubble year!), 21-23 each (we usually have 15-17-and it totally makes a difference).

In my class alone, I have reading levels ranging from M to V! Although I think all kids could benefit from literature circles, I'd like to try it with my higher level kids first, and keep them with me, so we can meet as needed. It would also free up some time for double-dosing some of my lower students. We'll see!

If I can do some convincing (and depending on support personnel-they help determine the number of GR groups!), I'll definitely be doing Literature Circles!

I'm looking forward to giving my kids more responsibility and seeing what happens!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Learn Like a Pirate~Chapter 4

It's week 4 of the Learn Like a Pirate book study with The Primary Gal!

Chapter 4 is about improvement focus v. grade focus.

This is something I've been thinking a lot about recently, as I believe students need to make individual growth and improvement to be successful, not meet a blanket proficiency statement, so this chapter really resonated with me!

Too often, I see my students striving for that "A" on the test, but not remembering what they learned a week or a few months later, or not even caring about what they get.

We need to shift the focus of our students from the grades they receive to how they can improve themselves.

Some students will get paid for getting good grades (which I don't agree with), and others will be grounded for their grades (which I also don't agree with).

If there is a 'grade' problem, we should be working towards how we can improve upon that for the student!

Paul shows us that we can do this by giving feedback.

Feedback shouldn't be limited to teachers-some of the most meaningful feedback will come from peers!

Of course, we want the students to be able to see their growth, and how feedback has impacted their work.

Instead of having piles of papers on your desks-create a set of portfolios!

I've had writing portfolios for a few years, and I love seeing the changes in their writing from beginning to end.

Paul suggests having an ePortfolio-having it all online!

He does it through a blog (KidBlog, Blogger, etc. ) which has the ability for students to comment on each others work, but I think you could also do it through Evernote, (although that might be more teacher focused for data-see how I use it here!) or Seesaw would be another great option-and what I'll be attempting to use with my class this year (and I've already set up my class list for next year-I'm that excited)! I wrote more about it here.

Paper portfolios would work as well if you don't have the tech needed for ePortfolios. Our 5th grade has the students store all their work in a binder-that way, they can see the changes from the beginning of the trimester to the end.

I will definitely be focusing more on how students can improve-after all, the only person they're trying to beat is themselves. By constantly striving to do better, they won't be as dependent on the money of privileges they could earn for doing 'well'.

They'll be learning that you can always be better at something, and constantly reflecting on how to make that happen-which will (hopefully!) make them great members of society who work hard because they know it feels good.

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Learn Like a Pirate~Chapter 1

It seems fitting that my 500th blog post is about a book study!


I'm joining with The Primary Gal for her Learn Like a Pirate study!

  Chapter 1 is all about the definition of a Student-Led Classroom.

As I was thinking about it, I realized that I try and include my students in the decisions we make-but I could probably be doing so much more!

I want my students to be truly independent problem-solvers, and thinkers, without having to rely on me for every decision.

This is something I think everyone needs to work on-to often, my students give up too easily, without wanting to put in the hard work and persevere! This is something we will definitely be working on next year!

I still have some concerns-as most teachers, I do like being in control-and I do think that there are some things that the teacher needs to have the final say in-but that's the next chapter!

This was my big takeaway from this chapter-and I agree wholeheartedly! If we don't have this, our classrooms can't run effectively-no matter what we do!

Even if you aren't on board with having a student-led classroom, this is something that I feel is non-negotiable as a teacher.

We're there to create a safe environment for our kids-and they need to feel this! This is something that every teacher should be on board with. It definitely helps your classroom run more smoothly when they do!

What are your thoughts on a student-led classroom?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn