Monday, February 6, 2012

Teach Like A Champion

In the foreward of this book, written by Norman Atkins, I love the analogy that he uses when he compares Doug Lemov to John Madden. He comments that Doug Lemov watched thousands of hours of teachers' game films and analyzed their teaching moves with more enthsiasm and attention to detail than virtually anyone else in the history of American Education. That is quite a statement and I believe important to note as we begin to read this book. They also talk about in the book how this book helps good teachers become great! I believe that is what we are working towards! We want to move from good to great! I love how he has taken techniques that I have seen great teachers use, and given them a name, defintion, and expanded them! Norman Atkins says that Doug Lemov found and captured on video, "beyond No-shortcuts preparation and an essential mindset of high expecations, were highly skilled individuals, working with a common discrete set of tools, building systems of classroom culture and instruction brick by brick.
Love this book - this has been the most motivating book I have read in a long time! I love how he named the tools, many times these were things I have seen used, but now we have a name for these techniques and we can employ common language when we talk about great instruction and effective techniques. I also love the idea of videotaping lessons in order to see in action what tools are being used in the classroom. What an amazing opportunity for growth! I see such amazing opportunities for NMS and our students through this book! I hope those of you who are DC's and participating in the book study, as well as those of you who are reading it along with us and commenting on the blog, can get excited about the possibilties that are ahead! I am excited!

18 comments:

  1. I really like how this book is based on hours and hours of observing great teachers to see what they were doing rather than starting with a new theory or technique. The ideas are simple and make sense, which makes it easy to try and integrate into your class everyday. I know I have been trying to really focus on the "Right is Right" and "No Opt Out" techniques.

    It was also really great to be able to see the Yes Prep teachers using the same techniques. I'm sure if we had been in the rooms longer and they weren't reviewing for the common assessments we would have seen even more.

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    1. I like the way he calls the skills "techniques" rather than "strategies" and that practicing the techniques will help one become a more productive and effective teacher. I also agree when he says that even though you might think you know or already use a technique, that there is always room to refine it. I really like having the DVD to see how the techniques are used. I'm a visual learner so seeing it done, helps cement it in my brain.
      Visiting YES Prep was very interesting and energizing. I agree with Hoy. We shouldn't judge the teachers we observed too harshly. They were preparing for their common assessment and I know I wouldn't want to be evaluated based on what someone saw in 10 or 15 minutes. I really liked some of the techniques some of the teachers used in their classrooms, especially the debriefing of what worked and what didn't with transitioning from one task to another and having the kids put words to it. I think it's more effective if the kids say what they did or didn't do correctly rather than have a teacher lecture them.
      My favorite part of the visit was talking to the students. They were amazing!
      And this is for Eric....pa,da, pa,pa paaaaa I'm Loving It! I really liked those attention/focusing strategies they used....sorry Eric. :)

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  2. " analyzed their teaching moves with more enthsiasm and attention to detail than virtually anyone else in the history of American Education..." What a great way to look at it!

    I really like how he researched teachers in the classroom to compile his data and share the strategies in this book. Observing multiple classrooms have helped me shape my thinking about education and how students learn best. I appreciated being able to visit Yes Prep to see their techniques as well.

    I think there is value in analyzing what we have seen and looking at teaching with a critical eye so that we can make our school the best that it can be. I agree with Tricia too that we have to balance our analysis by putting ourselves in their shoes and understand they were preparing for their Common Assessment. Teaching is a hard job but I truly love how this book gives short, clearly-defined strategies for the art of teaching!

    I have to go with Tricia, Eric - I like the "Loving it!!" attention-getting strategy! But that's why teaching is great - you take what works for you and run with it! :)

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  3. I agree with Diana! I love that this book is based on researched, practiced techniques and not just theories that should work. I think the inclusion of the dvd with concrete examples of the techniques is a great addition as well.

    The part of the book that has spoken to me the most so far is on page 7 when the author writes, "One of the biggest ironies I hope you will take away from reading this book is that many of the tools likely to yield the strongest classroom results remain essentially beneath the notice of theories and theorists of education." The author then goes on to discuss how set routines is so critical to student achievement. I can say that after my first year back in the classroom in 10 years, I couldn't agree more. I find that when I let those routines slip, we don't get nearly as much done in class as when I'm diligent about keeping those routines in place. I find that those routines set the tone for the entire class. I appreciate that instead of focusing on theories, he shows us practices that can help with this aspect of teaching.

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  4. One of my favorite techniques in Chapter 1 is the "no opt out" technique. I like how he pointed out the you must keep kids on the hook. We have discussed this before but a reminder is sometimes nice.

    In the stretch it section of Chapter 1, I liked his question for "ask another way to answer" This is very easy to do in math since their is more than one way to arrive at the correct answer. I will be implementing immediately.


    Chapter 5 is really really good....really. I have so much highlighted in the chapter so far! Eye opener, ENGAGEMENT...I love the definition he gave...it finally makes sense. We always talk about engagement but what is it..."get students engaged in productive, POSITIVE work"

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  5. This book has some really great information for new teachers. I think it is interesting that the author has taken teaching techniques and given them names. I have observed and spoken to many great teachers and seen these techniques used, but most of the teachers could not have explained exactly what they did to quiet the class or get a good answer from a student. In many ways, the author has taken the art of teaching and turned it into the science of teaching.

    I too enjoyed the yes prep visit. You could tell that the teachers and administrators had worked hard to build strong relationships with the kids. The culture of the school was really incredible. In each class we saw, the kids were engaged, and looked genuinely happy to be there. I think the routines and consistent message are some of the keys to their success. Also, while I dont prefer the more melodic or rhythmic attention-getting strategies, there is no doubt they were effective in the class we observed.

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  6. This book should be everyone' bible - especially the veteran teacher. The ideas and techniques that are found throughout the chapters can help any 'old dog learn new tricks' as Jan said in our meeting yesterday. So far one of the things that I have really liked the best was NO OPT OUT! Kids get to settle in and not answer fully or not struggle just a bit at coming to an answer. I like it also because it requires the teacher to keep up the pace, keep the kids hooked and help them work through the struggles of bringing out what they know.

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  7. I agree with you all. I like that this book was written for good teachers and employing these techniques can help us become great! Jen - I agree with you on chapter 5. That whole chapter spoke to me in so many ways! I can't wait to have that conversation! Thanks to everyone so far for posting your thoughts and opinions! And one more thing - Eric - I totally agree with you. I believe sometimes good teachers do some of these things intuitively, and don't even know they do it. By naming the technique, and explaining it, all teachers can use the technique and get the results! Very interesting!!

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  8. I really liked how this book took different information and ideas from many teachers. Collaboration is key in anything we do and it seems like teachers don't always collaborate very well. Taking these ideas and applying them to our classrooms should help us help our students be more successful in their scholarly works.

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  9. This has been a really good read.

    I believe in Atkins comment that 'Teach Like a Champion is essential reading for those who intend to make every moment count in their classrooms, who want to build a repertoire of skills that will help them lead all their students to meaningful achievement, who are all about getting down to the work of ensuring that demography is not destiny for our children and our nation.'

    One challenge for the champion teacher is to maintain the expectation that it's not okay not to try (No Opt Out). Students rise to the challenges of high expectations - high expectations drive high student achievement. Of the five techniques in chapter one, we're also exploring 'Right is Right' and 'Format Matters.' It's been interesting to see the responses when classmates are reminded to 'track the speaker' (their classmate who is sharing a thought or response. 'Voice' was used for audible format today - trying to make it clear that speaking up is an expectation, not a favor. I challenged the students to answer in complete sentence format instead of our usual one word popcorn responses. I thought it interesting that Lemov says that our 'goal is to make each necessary intervention with the least distraction from the task at hand and the least time away from what you were doing, and thus with the absolute minimum of words.' That will definitely be a challenge.

    Cindy, I agree that routines set the tone for the entire class. Eric, I love what you said - 'in many ways, the author has taken the art of teaching and turned it into the science of teaching.' Teach Like a Champion will give us tools to take our students to the next level.

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  10. Karen - I love that you all are using the strong voice or speaking up in Health Fitness. And, to answer in complete sentences. It is an expectation - not a favor. I honestly believe so many wonderful things can happen to NMS's culture if
    %100 of the faculty staff is on board with these techniques. I also agree that No Opt Out is critical for our students. No one gets to sit and not participate! THanks for your feedback Karen!

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  11. I was looking back at the introduction and thought that this line was worth reading again...."...(students) take their seats, pull out their notebooks, and, as if by magic, think and work like scholars. In each of those classrooms stands one teacher - an artisan whose attention to technique and execution differentiates her from most of her peers." I felt like this line captured the whole book in its effort to put words to the art of teaching.

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  12. Oooh! Lesli that is an awesome sentence! Thank you for rewriting it! I totally agree with you! It is not magic - it is using the 5 principles and the right techniques! It is an art and I know we are going to create that "art" at NMS! Thank you for that!

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  13. There are so many techniques I love in this book. I like how it puts in words the techniques all good teachers do in very simple terms with the research to back it up. When something is not working in the classroom, the book gives you good solid techniques to use to help turn the classroom culture around from entry routines to 100%.

    I also loved the 5 principles of classroom culture. This is the piece I seem to think has been missing. It really spoke to me about the struggles I have been having between disipline and management. I heard great discussions about this on Friday.

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  14. Today I watched several clips from the DVD. First of all, I love that we can watch the techniques in action. The clip I watched several times was Clip 19 - Positive Framing - I wrote down so many notes from this clip. The teacher uses great pacing and sprinkles in specific positive comments on the students' use of SLANT and on how the kids approach answering academic questions. She also encourages them to use their voice. Many times I can't hear a student's response to a question and this clip gave me some ideas on how to approach that. When the teacher asks a question, she follows it with comments like, "Let me hear voice - I know you have a voice."

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  15. I agree Patricia. There is nothing like seeing it in action with students! I got to see a lot of that in action at the kIPP believe in New Orleans. There was never a wasted opportunity to teach (discipline) the students, from use of voice, to SLANT, etc.... We will create our culture one classroom, one lesson, and one hour at a time!!! Thanks for posting Patricia!!

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    1. Not sure why my name is coming out Patricia now and not Tricia...oh well...technology and I don't get along sometimes...

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  16. Chapter 5 has so many great ideas that I have started using. 100% is one of my favorites. My whole outlook on "discipline" has changed...it's not the consequences it's about teaching what we expect!

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