Ever have a
time in your life that you felt inspired to create a positive experience for someone else?
On September 24th, 2015 Penn State Teach Ag!
Society celebrated National Teach Ag! Day by hosting Dave
Burgess, author of Teach like a Pirate, as
an inspirational speaker. Although I did
not read the book, I was inspired and motivated that day to become a more passionate
and caring teacher. I wanted to empower young minds to become fully immersed in their educational experience.
Two years later, I have the opportunity to read and reflect upon the
book Teach like a Pirate by Dave Burgess. Throughout this summer, I will
be engaging in discussion with my cooperating teacher - Mr. Roy Campbell of
Derry Area High School. Our discussions are centered on the core messages
presented throughout the book. Teach like
a Pirate is divided into six chapters, one for each letter of the word
PIRATE:
P - Passion
I - Immersion
R - Rapport
A - Ask and
Analyze
T – Transformation
E – Enthusiasm
Mr. Campbell and I were able to reflect upon the first third of the
book. This allowed us to discuss the chapters centered on the meanings of
Passion, Immersion, and Rapport in an educational experience.
Passion - At the beginning of this chapter Burgess shared the secret of
facing fears and ruts of teaching. Although this is something many do not want
to admit of experiencing, many teachers do. However, it is okay! According to
Burgess, a teacher just needs to ignite, or reignite their passions both inside
and outside of the classroom to eliminate fears and ruts throughout their experience. Mr.
Campbell shared how a teacher who lives life without passion for the content or profession is not going be a person that can ignite the spark needed for
engaging students. I realize that throughout my quest of becoming an agricultural
educator, I need to ignite the spark to bring that flame of passion into the classroom for my students.
Immersion – Throughout this chapter, Burgess suggested that teachers
need to create/set up an environment that is safe physically, mentally and
emotionally for all students. Students help to create the environment, but
the teacher sets the parameters and holds all accountable. On the other
hand, Burgess also encourages teachers to not miss the moment, “It is OK to
surrender your structure in pursuit of something far more valuable in the
moment.” Sometimes teachers need to be with their students in a moment to
become the most effective in teaching for the comfort of the students, not teaching for the
standardized test.
Rapport – In the last chapter of the first third of the book, Burgess
suggested that teachers must build a rapport with the students to value and understand
how to guide them throughout their experience in the classroom. This
can be achieved by asking questions, listening, and even sharing. The
information that a teacher can learn about each individual student can easily
be used for student engagement throughout upcoming lessons. In addition,
Mr. Campbell shared how rapport is important because students know when teachers are interested in them, and
they want to feel valued.
We concluded
that if I constructed a foundation of a safe learning environment, built rapport with my students, and have a passion for what I am teaching, a positive experience will be created within my classroom. All in all, it is about creating the experience for my students and myself!
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| Tweet from 2015 reflecting on the overall message by Dave Burgess. |
I am amazed how something that inspired and motivated me in the past, continues to do the same in the present. I truly have been blessed with an experience that rooted me in my agricultural education journey, and continues to grow with my agricultural education journey today.
Stay connected to learn how I continue to grow in my agricultural education journey from the reading and reflecting on the book Teach like a Pirate.
