Speed Date {Books} on the First Day

Woohoo! School has arrived here in Minnesota, and I couldn't wait to share my classroom with students this morning. Not only did I have new flexible seating, but I completely changed my first day curriculum.

Flexible seating and books ready to be "dated."

I have used Book Speed Dating in my classroom before, but this is the first time on the FIRST day. Why the change?

I must admit, I saw Kelly Gallagher post the same idea on his Twitter, which was encouraging. I highly recommend following him!

As I was preparing my classroom, I asked myself what were my goals for the year. This is the first one I chose to display prominently:

I shared this goal with my students and I told them that we were going to start aiming for it right away.

To begin, I placed books from our classroom library throughout the room. I did my best to mix genres at each spot to offer variety.

When students came into the room, I explained my goal and why; then I shared their "golden ticket" with them. You can find a copy here.  

I demonstrated to the students how to review the books before deciding if the book was worthy of their "Want to Read" lists:

1. Switch seats when the timer buzzes--no jumping ahead; no staying behind.

2. Focus on your "date." Limit your talking.

3. Judge the cover.

4. Read the blurb and about the author.

5. Look at size: the number of pages, size of font, words per page.

6. Read the first 3 pages.

7. Decide if the book is worthy of your chart! (Not all books need to be on your chart)

This sheet guided them how to "date" their book and allowed them to record which books interested them and now they can save it to remind them which they may want to read later.

In my classroom, each "date" was 2:30 long. The timer was on the board to keep us all focused.

We continued for approximately 25 minutes. Then students completed the reflection "What types of books interest you? Explain why!" as a quick write, again with 2:30. I made a point to explain that this was an open-ended question and they could tell me about books they didn't enjoy, favorite books, etc. 

Then MY favorite part! I showed students how to utilize our classroom library, which has a simple checkout clipboard, return and repair bins. Students then checked books out!

So what's next? I'm planning several opportunities for students to share books.

One is this new bookcase display. Students will be recommending books to their classmates by decorating the spines of books. 

At the end of each quarter, students write book reviews online, either via Google Classroom or Goodreads to share their thoughts with their peers. 

And one still developing plan:

Reading and Writing Challenges! More to come later this year. 

I hope this inspires you to find ways to share books and reading with your students!

Happy school year!

Avast ye! (Pay attention) and Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

I loved reading Dave Burgess' Teach Like a Pirate during our teacher book club this summer. Why?

http://daveburgess.com/

Just read the title! Ever since Pirates of the Caribbean, I've wanted to be a pirate, so what does it mean if I teach like a pirate? 

Burgess opens with this: "Pirates are daring, adventurous, and willing to set forth into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success. They reject the status quo and refuse to conform to any society that stifles creativity and independence. They are entrepreneurs who take risks and are willing to travel to the ends of the earth for that which they value."

Don't you want to adventure like Jack Sparrow?

https://pirates.disney.com/movies

In some seriousness, below are my top three reasons for encouraging other teachers who are passionate about teaching students to read this book:

First: It was an enjoyable and easy read. I could sit down on my couch, put my feet up, and read without stopping. Occasionally I did end up stopping, either because my adorable lab still thought he was a lap dog OR I was inspired and needed to write down an idea before it sailed away from me. (See what I did there?)

Second: This book will help you see how you show your enthusiasm. I reflected on my favorite teachers throughout my school career, from elementary all the way through college. I asked myself, "Why did I love these teachers and their classes?" Don't get me wrong, I reflected on this same question during college too, but once you are really out to sea, theory and practice can take on different perspectives. Then the question morphed into, "How am I mimicking those teachers?"

Again, Burgess has an answer: "I'll always choose a teacher with enthusiasm and weak technique over one with brilliant strategies but who is just punching the clock. Why? An enthusiastic teacher can learn technique, but it is almost impossible to light a fire inside the charred heart of a burned-out teacher." You'll have to read the book yourself to learn about the different types of passion you can show enthusiasm for.

Weren't your favorite teachers the most enthusiastic? Mine were. 

Third: This book is meant to be inspiring. I didn't find a go-to book of lesson plans to commandeer. Instead, Burgess' examples of projects, teaching style, and engaging hooks got me to think about ways that I would like to create MORE in my own classroom. You don't have to be a creative person; you just have to be open to new ideas and the concept of failure: "If you haven't failed in the classroom lately, you aren't pushing the envelope far enough. 'Safe' lessons are a recipe for mediocrity at best."

If you are in education and feel like you're lost in a storm, please consider reading this book to rediscover your treasure and passion for teaching.

“I'll always choose a teacher with enthusiasm and weak technique over one with brilliant strategies but who is just punching the clock. Why? An enthusiastic teacher can learn technique, but it is almost impossible to light a fire inside the charred heart of a burned-out teacher.” 

A Grand Idea: Teacher Book Clubs

A wonderful colleague and I had a GRAND idea this spring. 

We started a...

TEACHER BOOK CLUB.

Why?

We both have these two desires for our teaching careers: 

1. to create a positive reading culture within our school for our students
2. to be part of a professional community dedicated to facing everyday challenges with passion and innovation

We are leading by example (because we know students learn from observation). Reading doesn't have to happen within a vacuum; reading can be (and arguably should be) a social activity to be the catalyst of discussion, the sharing of ideas, and opportunities of growth to benefit us, our students, and our communities.

We decided that our book club is open to all of our secondary staff: teachers, administrators, substitutes, support staff, and anyone else willing to grow as a professional. Our books have been chosen by the group of us attending our informal noon meals (because we are not above bribing our friends and colleagues with food...).

Before Minnesota schools resume, I want to share with you what we've read this summer.

June: 

http://daveburgess.com/

July: 

https://georgecouros.ca/blog/the-innovators-mindset-book

August: 

http://heyjuliesmith.com/my-books/

In the coming days (or weeks or months), I will continue to share my takeaways from these texts and our continuing book club journey.

Please share your own tales of book clubs, as a student, as a teacher, or--simply--as a reader.

Connect with me on Twitter @sharingengteach