Teach Like a Champion (TLC)

49 Techniques That Put Students On the Path To College

Doug Lemov (2010)

Jossey-Bath Teacher (Publisher)

Presented by:

Dr. Gary Greene

Professor of Special Education

California State University, Long Beach

ggreene@csulb.edu

Special Needs Consultant,

U.S. State Department, Office of Overseas Schools

What does it mean to be a champion?

What words or characteristics do you associate with the term champion?

Championnumber 1 ranked, the very best….

focused, disciplined, dedicated….

intense, trained, exceptional….

confident, practiced, artful….

inspirational, amazing….

Workshop objectives:

Explore the notion of championship teaching;

Discuss the rationale and evidence behind the book Teach Like A Champion; and

Share, discuss, view, and model champion teaching techniques (not strategies).

What is the difference between a strategy an a technique?

According to Lemov (2010, p.309), “a strategy is a decision and a technique is something you practice, hone, and adapt throughout your life.”

What is the difference between a strategy and a technique?

“Artists, athletes, musicians, surgeons, and performers of a thousand other varieties achieve greatness only by their attention to the details of their technique” (Lamov, 2010, p. 309).

Workshop objective:

By the end of this workshop, each of you should leave with 3-5 teaching techniques that when implemented correctly in your classroom will dramatically increase achievement in your students, potentially close the achievement gap, and better prepare them for success in college.

Rationale and Evidence Behind Teach Like A Champion

Is teaching an art or a science?What are the tools (i.e., techniques) of the

teaching craft?Can we observe and quantify great teaching?What specific, concrete actions and

techniques are associated with champion teachers?

Rationale and Evidence Behind Teach Like A Champion

Doug Lemov observed highly effective teachers working with some of the most high need, low achieving children in urban schools.

He categorized (n = 9) and identified 49 techniques used by these highly effective teachers (aka Champion Teachers).

Rationale and Evidence Behind Teach Like A Champion

Many of the techniques identified in TLC are validated and substantiated by prior research from the 1980’s on effective instruction, effective teaching, and direct instruction.

The 9 Categories of TLC

1. Set high academic expectations.

2. Plan instruction that assures academic achievement.

3. Effectively structure and deliver classroom lessons.

4. Effectively engage all students in every lesson.

The 9 Categories of TLC

5. Create a strong classroom culture.

6. Set and maintain high behavioral expectations.

7. Build character and trust in students.

8. Maintain a brisk instructional pace.

9. Challenge students to think critically.

Examples of TLC Strategies

Let’s take a look at the specific strategies by category and see some of them in action!

Set high academic expectations

1. No opt out

2. Right is right

3. Stretch it

4. Format matters

5. Without apology

Right is Right

Right is Right

Stretch It

Plan instruction that assures academic achievement.

6. Begin with the end

7. 4 Ms

8. Post it

9. Shortest path

10. Double plan

11. Draw the map

Effectively structure and deliver classroom lessons.

12. Name the steps (aka 5 step lesson plan)

13. The hook (aka Anticipatory Set)

14. Board=Paper (aka Guided Notes)

15. Circulate (aka Frequent Monitoring)

The Hook: Anticipatory Set

Circulate

Effectively structure and deliver classroom lessons.

16. Break it down (aka Task Analysis and Scaffolding)

17. Ratio

18. Check for understanding

19. At bats (aka high/frequent student engagement)

Check for Understanding/At Bats

Effectively structure and deliver classroom lessons.

20. Exit ticket (aka Closure)

21. Take a stand (aka Whole Group Accountability)

Effectively engage all students in every lesson.

22. Cold call

23. Call and response (aka Choral Responding)

24. Pepper

25. Wait time (aka Think Time)

26. Everybody writes (aka Quick Write)

27. Vegas (using song, rhythm, dance etc.)

Cold Call

Pepper

Pepper

Vegas (song, rhythm, rhyme)

Create a strong classroom culture.

5 essential principles of classroom culture:

Discipline

Management

Control

Influence

Engagement

Create a strong classroom culture.

28. Entry routine 33. On your mark

29. Do now 34. Seat signals

30. Tight transitions 35. Props

31. Binder control

32. SLANT

Tight Transitions/Do it Again

Binder Control/Do Now

Props/Joy Factor

Set and maintain high behavioral expectations.

36. 100 percent 41. Threshold

37. What to do 42. No warnings

38. Strong voice

39. Do it again

40. Sweat the details

100

100%

100%

Do it Again/Exit Routines

Build character and trust in students.

43. Positive framing 49. Normalize error

44. Precise praise

45. Warm/strict

46. The J factor

47. Emotional consistency

48. Explain why it matters

Warm/Strict

The J Factor

Maintain a brisk instructional pace.

Change the pace

Brighten lines

All hands

Every minute matters (aka ELT/ALT=1.00)

Look forward (aka cueing)

Work with the clock

All Hands

Challenge students to think critically.

Focus on questioning techniques

One at a time

Simple to complex

Verbatim

Clear and concise

Stock questions

Hit rate

Summary

To teach like a champion requires finesse and discretion in the application (e.g., the art of teaching) of the techniques of the craft (e.g., the science of teaching) with the eventual goal of mastery in order to push all children to achieve academic success!

Summary

The techniques of TLC were not derived from theory or ideology.

The techniques of TLC were derived from effective teacher practice that led to significant closing of the achievement gap in highly challenged schools and students.

Many of the techniques are research validated in previous education literature.

Summary

The goal of Lamov (2010) is to get as many teachers as possible to apply these techniques in their daily practice to increase student achievement, as well as to adapt and improve them in their own practice.

Closure

What have you learned today?What TLC techniques are you currently

using in your practice?What new TLC techniques do you plan to

use in your practice?Do you think teaching is an art or a

science or both?

Closure

Now go out and Teach Like a Champion!