Bookclubs

Teach Like a Champion: 49 techniques that put students on the path to college

by Doug Lemov

According to the blurb, this book is a step by step guide to a style of teaching that "unlocks the talent and skill waiting in your students."

I think all of us in the bookclub agreed that the steps he suggests were easily learnable, and we decided which ones we wanted to try out in our own classrooms. 

A few weeks later, we were able to visit other classrooms to watch the teacher using the techniques. The discussion and accountability to practice were great!

TOP PICKS:

STAR - stands for Sit Up Straight, Track the Speaker (follow with eyes), Ask and Answer Questions Like a Scholar, Respect Those Around You. We are suggesting we make this schoolwide, complete with poster in each classroom.

Cold Call - short bursts of review or basic questions usually at beginning or end of lesson.

No Opt Out - if a student doesn't have the answer, go to someone else, then go back to first student and he/she repeats the correct answer...even if you have to ask multiple students, go back to all of those who didn't know the answer.

Voice - saying "Voice" is a lot quicker than asking someone, "Can you please speak up so everyone can hear you?"

Every Minute Counts - time how long students take to pass out and hand in papers, get books out, line up etc. Great enthusiasm by students for shortening transition times - resulting in way more time learning!

Check back or read the posts labeled Bookclub to see what everyone is thinking as we continue practicing these and more of the strategies, or check out the book and DVD if you missed our club last year. 

The link below has a number of videos of the teachers in action.
Uncommon Schools Website