| Damien Riley from Dynamite Lesson Plan offers | | | | planning on Thu and Fri after school. At that time I |
| classroom tested tips and advice on how to engage | | | | assemble all the stuff I can from the internet. It's also a |
| students more successfully. | | | | way to connect with teachers across the globe and |
| Dorit: Thank you Damien for this interview. First off, I | | | | escape "the box" of your school site or district thinking |
| just love the name of your blog. How did you first | | | | patterns. |
| come to name your blog? | | | | Dorit: What's your favorite thing about dynamic |
| Damien: You are welcome Dorit, it is great to share | | | | lessons? |
| among colleagues and others interested in Education. I | | | | Damien: Movement. Getting kids to move gets their |
| named my blog after something my master teacher in | | | | blood going and gets them remembering more about |
| teacher college told me back in 1997. As many new | | | | the lesson. I have volunteers getting up on chairs and |
| teachers do, I was struggling with behavior problems in | | | | holding signs up, hand motions, etc. I once even |
| my class. He told me something I will never forget: | | | | modeled "sequential order" by having a student follow |
| "The best way to control kids is through a dynamite | | | | my instructions, which were trivial (stand up, turn, etc) |
| lesson plan." I believe it so much, I named my teaching | | | | and when she got to me, I gave her a dollar! They still |
| blog after it: "Dynamite Lesson Plan." | | | | talk about that back in September. |
| Dorit: You're a veteran teacher-what do you teach | | | | Least favorite? |
| and how long have you been teaching? | | | | Calling random non-volunteers. It is so necessary but I |
| Damien: Thank you for the moniker! I currently teach | | | | wish I could just call on the ones I know are listening. I |
| 4th grade public school in Southern California. I'm | | | | use playing cards and number the kids so that makes |
| credentialed to teach K-6 and I've been teaching now | | | | it kind of fun. |
| for 9 years. Grades I have taught in the past include: | | | | Dorit: What new(er) approaches have you used |
| 3,4,5,9, and I have taught college courses. So I like to | | | | recently to create dyanmic lessons that speak to |
| think I've seen a variety of ages so I can offer help | | | | students? |
| and share about more than just 4th grade. | | | | Damien:Explicit Direct Instruction is really my model |
| Dorit: I hear also you're a writer - what do you also like | | | | now. A great thing. You can do a search for it on |
| to write and how long have you been writing? | | | | Google or on my site. I've written quite a bit on it. |
| Damien: I got my Master's in English hoping to be a | | | | Dorit: Do you have any advice for beginning teachers |
| writer and college professor. The college professor | | | | on how to create dynamic lesson plans and/or how to |
| thing wasn't for me, too much academia quicksand, but | | | | engage their students? |
| the writing has panned out well in one book publishing | | | | Damien: Get a teaching method or template you like |
| and a variety of popular posts out in the web. I book | | | | and pour your passion into it. Make notecards and tape |
| publishing came about when I answered a simple call | | | | them to your desk of the stuff you know the principal |
| for stories in my school newsletter. It ended up being | | | | is looking for and do that stuff, but focus more on |
| published in a book. You can access my published and | | | | what makes you excited. That is what education |
| non published web writing at my online resume I call | | | | needs nowadays. Enough of the blah LOL. |
| Riley Central. | | | | Dorit: How do you define a dynamic lesson? Both as a |
| Dorit: In your blog, you focus on various ways teachers | | | | classroom manager, lesson planner and teacher? |
| can engage students. What do you feel by far is the | | | | Damien: Well, everything I've said up to now defines it. I |
| most critical and challenging area(s) for new teachers | | | | really like acronyms so let me use the letters of my |
| to acquire? How do you feel about the task of | | | | website: DLP and answer your question: |
| engaging students? | | | | D: The dynamic lesson has drive. |
| Damien: Great question on engaging students. People | | | | L: When you get on stage, you are not lazy! |
| are attracted to energy. When a teacher is involved | | | | P: You do it for the love of people, small or grown |
| and enthusiastic in what she/he is teaching, kids are | | | | Dorit: What do you wish you'd known about engaging |
| drawn there. That place is where learning occurs. The | | | | students and dynamic lessons at the beginning that |
| way to get there as a teacher is highly up to the | | | | you know now? |
| individual. If I see a new teacher talking about the | | | | Damien: If you look people in the eye and tell them |
| objective assigned to her as if she is walking barefoot | | | | you're there to help, you are always "in." Don't get |
| on broken glass, I will ask her later: "What part of that | | | | intimidated by your admin when they watch you. See |
| boring lesson COULD you enjoy teaching?" Usually I | | | | your vision of reaching kids in your way. I used to get |
| get some wild answers after a while. The conclusion | | | | really freaked out when I was being observed. I think |
| we come to is that you have to be interested of the | | | | it's always hard, but now I see it differently. Life is so |
| kids won't buy in. New teachers should start finding the | | | | short, you can have such an influence as a teacher. |
| ways to be comfortable with the material, the delivery, | | | | And if your admin doesn't fit with your style, find the |
| the "tech toys" like projectors etc, and all the stuff they | | | | courage to keep looking for another job. |
| use to teach. As that comfort is developed, kids will | | | | Dorit: Is there anything you'd like people to know about |
| want to come to class and they will learn. Kids are like | | | | you that they might not? |
| sponges but if there's no water... | | | | Damien: Not really. This was a great "dialogue." Thank |
| Dorit: How has the internet affected teachers ability to | | | | you for the wonderful questions. I'd just like to thank |
| think in more dynamic terms of engaging their | | | | teachers out there and to let them know I am their |
| learners? Your students' writing? | | | | advocate and if they want to visit and bookmark my |
| Damien: I enjoy keeping a blog but that may not be | | | | site, I'd love to meet and network ideas with them! |
| everyone's cup of tea. The internet makes it possible | | | | Dorit: I'm sure your information and your experience will |
| to instantly gather photos and information on a variety | | | | be so helpful to new teachers out there. Thanks so |
| of topics each day for your kids. I try to do my | | | | much for this interview! |