Maintaining students’ attention before a vacation break, and regaining it upon their return, is a challenge for teachers regardless of grade level or experience. It is often a steep downhill leading into vacation, and a steeper climb when class resumes.
Planning engaging projects, decorating your classroom, and incorporating seasonal lessons are a few teacher-endorsed suggestions to beat the pre- and post-holiday blues, but sometimes you need to think outside of the box. Don’t miss the next #ILAchat on Twitter at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 when we’ll hear from Dave Burgess, author of New York Times Best-Seller Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator, and learn his techniques for overcoming holiday obstacles in the classroom.
Teacher and professional development speaker, Burgess was awarded the 2014 BAMMY for Secondary School Teacher of the Year by the Academy of Educations Arts and Sciences. During his time teaching in San Diego, Burgess received the Golden Apple in both 2001 and 2012, and was named Teacher of the Year in 2007/2008. Specializing in teaching hard-to-motivate students, Burgess’ techniques utilize showmanship and creativity as a means of connecting with hard-to reach students.
Burgess describes pirates as “daring, adventurous, and willing to set forth into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success.” He urges teachers to embody this idea, going so far as to say “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.” During the chat, Burgess will share some of his tried and true methods to keep student attention in the classroom regardless of what is happening outside of it.
Get ready to embrace your inner pirate with author and speaker Dave Burgess, as he shares advice on how to overcome the lack of motivation both before and after holiday breaks. In Burgess’ own words: “it’s not supposed to be easy – it’s supposed to be worth it.”
Follow #ILAchat and @ILAtoday at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 to join the conversation.
Alexandra Baruch is ILA’s communications intern.