Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Teach Like a Pirate (TLAP) is a quick, practical book that allows immediate implementation. Dave Burgess tackles passion in teaching and translating that into presentation skills. He talks about how PD is often focused on either content or teaching techniques, but believes it takes presentation to really pull off a spectacular lesson. Figure one is the Venn diagram presented in the book where the focus is to get into the center overlap where teaching like a pirate happens.

Source: http://goo.gl/K6lG1t

The part that I found most useful in this book was the plethora of presentation hooks that were described. Basically, a large number of questions you should consider either before, during or after you have prepared your lesson. One example is: How can I incorporate movement in this lesson? There are lots of things in this book I am not sure I am comfortable doing (ex. flying around the room as an airplane), but I am certainly now thinking about how I might change what I am doing to something more engaging. I am considering typing out the whole list to tape to me desk.

If you feel like you need some life injected into your lessons and are ready to take a risk, this book might be for you. Having just finished it, I am already thinking about reviewing it again and possibly using it to run a book club with fellow teachers at my school. 

Happy reading!

James