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Learn Like a PIRATE: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and Succeed
Collaboration. Empowerment. Student Leadership. These buzz words get a lot of press, but what do they really mean for today's students? Can students really handle the responsibility of leading the class? Can they actually learn what they need to if they are working together so often? Won't all this freedom cause chaos in the classroom? Not if you're teaching them to learn like PIRATES! Peer Collaboration builds community and supports teamwork and cooperation. Improvement-focused learning challenges students to constantly strive to be their best. Responsibility for daily tasks builds ownership in the classroom. Active learning turns boring lessons into fun and memorable experiences. Twenty-first century skills engage students now and prepare them for their futures. Empowerment allows students to become confident risk-takers who make bold decisions. In Learn Like a PIRATE, teachers will discover practical strategies for creating a student-led classroom in which students are inspired and empowered to take charge of their learning experience. You'll learn strategies - Crafting active, relevant, and interesting lessons - Creating opportunities for student leadership - Providing effective and beneficial feedback - Instilling confidence so students can take risks - Increasing curiosity and passion for learning Incorporate the techniques and strategies Paul Solarz uses in his student-led classroom and watch your students transform into confident, collaborative leaders.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 11, 2015
This book was the best personalized PD I could have wished for -- so much so that as I read it on Kindle, I took screen shots of my highlights and did digital annotations for how I could implement the strategies within the book. I also felt much better about the efforts I am making with my students. It's great to know that there are so many other "pirate" teachers out there and that I am not a fish out of water.
May 26, 2015
I've seen Paul's class in action - just before this book was published. He is the real deal. He does exactly what he writes, and his students respond so very well.
Some of this book I could not apply to my 7th grade ELA class - thus the four stars instead of five. However, much (most) of it I can use right out or tweak to meet my circumstances. My favorite chapter was chapter 8 - about giving students more responsibility. I had to read most chapters slowly, so that I could act soon after I read each gem. I'm going to be a pirate and steal ideas! The only thing "bad" about this book is that I've got more work to do this summer so that I'm ready to hand over the reins to students next school year and beyond!
Note: Many teachers who want to try Genius Hour / Passion Time will love his explanations and guidance in Paul's chapter about empowerment!
Some of this book I could not apply to my 7th grade ELA class - thus the four stars instead of five. However, much (most) of it I can use right out or tweak to meet my circumstances. My favorite chapter was chapter 8 - about giving students more responsibility. I had to read most chapters slowly, so that I could act soon after I read each gem. I'm going to be a pirate and steal ideas! The only thing "bad" about this book is that I've got more work to do this summer so that I'm ready to hand over the reins to students next school year and beyond!
Note: Many teachers who want to try Genius Hour / Passion Time will love his explanations and guidance in Paul's chapter about empowerment!
October 11, 2015
A must-read for all education stakeholders.
May 18, 2019
Wow! I cannot day enough about this book! It makes me want to start the school year all over again. Full of amazing resources and powerful insights that can totally transform your classroom.
June 10, 2015
One of the best books I've read to help me become the kind of teacher I've dreamed of.
April 6, 2018
This book ignited me- I can’t wait to process all of the information and use it in my classroom!
May 31, 2015
This book can be a game-changer in education. As a teacher that has desired a more student-led classroom, but still taught in a very traditional teacher-led manner, I needed a blueprint. Learn Like a Pirate is indeed that.
Paul Solarz takes you inside his classroom and describes what a student-led classroom looks like in all aspects of the school day. While it is ideal to begin incorporating his ideas on Day 1, there are strategies that can be implemented immediately. I read this book with 8 weeks to go in the current school year and have started making positive changes that will improve teaching and learning.
Has your school adopted the Danielson Framework as an evaluation model? If so, Learn Like a Pirate will benefit you in achieving a "4", "Excellent", or "Distinguished". Those familiar know that students having more choice and a voice in the classroom is necessary in those areas.
I highly recommend this book to teachers and administrators looking for ways to move into a more 21st century classroom/school.
Paul Solarz takes you inside his classroom and describes what a student-led classroom looks like in all aspects of the school day. While it is ideal to begin incorporating his ideas on Day 1, there are strategies that can be implemented immediately. I read this book with 8 weeks to go in the current school year and have started making positive changes that will improve teaching and learning.
Has your school adopted the Danielson Framework as an evaluation model? If so, Learn Like a Pirate will benefit you in achieving a "4", "Excellent", or "Distinguished". Those familiar know that students having more choice and a voice in the classroom is necessary in those areas.
I highly recommend this book to teachers and administrators looking for ways to move into a more 21st century classroom/school.
April 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I found it easy to read because of Solarz' engaging voice and real-world examples. I love getting to have a peek inside another teacher's classroom, and that's what this book felt like to me. I have a very clear understanding of how Solarz runs a student-led classroom. However, there were many times that I felt he was short-sighted and only explored how certain things worked within his experience. This book might have been improved by the addition of examples outside of Solarz' classroom. I teach middle school, which is only a few years older than his students, but that is worlds apart in terms of schedule. I thought that, while there were certainly ideas I can use here, most of the book is best suited to elementary school. Overall, a great read though! I will be passing it on to my sister, a fourth grade teacher.
July 28, 2015
Every educator MUST add this to their "to read" list immediately! Paul Solarz is an outstanding educator who through peer collaboration, improvement-focused learning, responsibility, active learning, twenty-first century skills, and empowerment will show you how a student led classroom will change your teaching life for the better! It is a game changer filled with amazing ideas PLUS QR codes that provide visuals, videos, explanations from students, blog posts & resources. This is a must have book for your teacher tool belt!
April 17, 2015
Excellent resource for a teacher who is slowly (yet surely) transforming their classroom into a student-led environment! Paul Solarz really hits the fundamentals of a well-run classroom straight on and provides great, vivid examples of how/why those fundamentals (and 21st Century Skills) are so necessary in today's schools. I look forward to using LLAP in conjunction with TLAP to create my best classroom YET next school year! :)
April 19, 2015
This is a book I will revisit often! I know it will help guide me on my journey as I continue to learn how to empower my students. I'm so thankful Paul wrote this book! It's entertaining, informative and practical. Paul's enthusiasm and passion is very evident in his writing style!!
August 10, 2015
Such a refreshing read. This book is packed with resources, ideas, and information. I find myself going back in for something new everyday. Perfect for any teacher looking to empower their students to take responsibility for their own learning.
July 19, 2015
Such a wonderful book! It validated much of what my heart has been telling me about what education should be. I do many of the things mentioned in the book, but sometimes feel guilty for not doing things like everyone else. I'm excited to try some of the new things I read about.
April 29, 2015
Loved it!! Trying to implement more of a student led classroom myself! Inspiring read--don't we all want engaged learners???
July 19, 2015
Great inspiration for teachers!
Merged review:
Great inspiration for teachers!
Merged review:
Great inspiration for teachers!
April 13, 2018
There were certainly some great ideas I will take from the book and morph into my own. Surprisingly enough (or maybe not) the majority of these concepts are already integrated into my class/ teaching routines and rituals (the author, like me, teaches fifth grade). Having said that, I think I could do more and push my students to take even more responsibility. A good read!
September 2, 2017
Every teacher should read this, particularly those who want to empower their students. It is thoughtful and practical. You will walk away with real ideas to use in your classroom tomorrow, and a few to pack away for the future.
August 8, 2018
This book aligns with my thinking about the purpose of education and offers several practical steps for making a classroom that runs itself. I look forward to putting many of these ideas into practice.
July 16, 2019
So many amazing ideas and thoughts! Books like this renew my passion for teaching and encourage me to be better for my students. I will probably come back to this book over and over again as I implement some of his ideas in my classroom.
January 7, 2022
I dog-eared like 100 pages of this book. Also, I wrote more notes than the author (not really), so I guess that means I liked it. I read it for my thesis research but got way more out of it than I needed.
June 12, 2017
This book has some good points and tips, but it was pretty basic.
June 13, 2017
This book was amazing!! Must read for every teacher!!!
August 2, 2017
Loved the ideas in this book. You have to pick and choose what will work for you, but the overall ideas are very positive!
August 13, 2017
Though this is more relevant to teaching elementary school, I think it has principles that can be used for all ages.
February 24, 2018
There is so much in this book to think about. I have already incorporated a few ideas. I think I'll be going back to this book often in the coming years.
June 14, 2018
Pretty good!
I choose this rating because I liked it. It wasn't as mind blowing that I thought it was going to be.
I choose this rating because I liked it. It wasn't as mind blowing that I thought it was going to be.
October 9, 2018
Good practical read.
August 16, 2019
Loved all of the lesson ideas to use with our students!
January 2, 2020
Provided insight on creating a more student driven classroom.
April 19, 2021
Has great ideas but it's a stretch for secondary educators because most of the examples were given for elementary educators.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews