On September 19, international “Talk Like a Pirate Day,” Mt. View Elementary School third graders and their third grade teachers arrive at school dressed as Pittsburgh or sea pirates for a fun-filled day of learning. When students see the giant Jolly Roger hanging across the third grade hallway they know the buccaneer day is beginning. It has developed over the years into a unique special day for third grade. Every part of the day is connected to the curriculum. Students learn about the treasures found in books from read aloud pirate stories, decode vocabulary using context clues in pirate speech, and practice speaking as pirates with the “thars” -there, their and they’re-in a chorus of “they arrrrrrre.” Young buccaneers find out how much loot their pirate name is worth, (Everyone gets a new pirate name which are proper nouns and must be capitalized!), and they discover the history and jobs of pirates from reading poetry and nonfiction articles. Teachers don’t hide the fact that real sea pirates were criminals plundering ships, but instead focus on how pirate crews worked cooperatively to keep the Pirate Ship in ship-shape. Homeroom class crews can be seen sailing through the school to different locations for their lessons. When they report to “Lobby Island” they go on a treasure hunt for numbers and they read books on the “pirate ship” porches. They have fun eating their grub in the cafeteria and playing imaginatively at recess. Music teachers even join in the fun teaching sea shanties. The teachers’ favorite assignment is a piece of writing called “What I Treasure Most.” Because it’s early in the school year, teachers get to see students’ writing abilities and learn about what matters to them. After all, even Captain Sparrow stated, “Not all treasure is silver and gold.” “We’re making memories,” said Mt. View Third Grade Teachers, “that is our treasure.”