Teach Like A Champion: 49
Techniques That Put
Students On The Path To
College
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r
1CMvuFLfxc
Setting High Academic Standards
• Technique 1:
No Opt Out – A sequence that begins
with a student unable to answer should end as often as
possible with that student answering. (Clip 1)
• Technique 2:
Right Is Right – Set and defend a high
standard of correctness in your classroom. (Clips 2 & 3)
• Technique 3:
Stretch It – The sequence of learning
does not end with a right answer; reward right answers
with follow-up questions that extend knowledge and
test for reliability. (Clip 4)
• Technique 4:
Format Matters – Require complete
sentences and proficient grammar every chance you
get. (Clip 5)
• Technique 5:
Without Apology – Do not voice
apologies that predetermine failure.
Planning that Ensures Academic
Achievement
• Technique 6:
Begins with the End – Progress from unit
objectives to lesson objectives, knowing how you will assess
and with what activities, and always make a full circle in
your lesson.
• Technique 7:
4Ms – A great lesson objective should be
manageable, measurable, made first, and most important
on the path to college.
• Technique 8:
Post It – Objectives should be visible.
• Technique 9:
Shortest Path – If there is more than one
path to achieve an objective, choose the simplest
explanation or strategy.
• Technique 10:
Double Plan – Plan for what the teacher
and the student will be doing each step of the way.
• Technique 11:
Draw the Map – Make space planning a
part of lesson planning.
Structuring and Delivering Your Lessons
• Technique 12: The Hook – Use a short, engaging
introduction to excite students into learning.
• Technique 13: Name the Steps – Identify steps and make
them memorable.
• Technique 14: Board=Paper – Model for students how to
track information they need to retain and ensure they have
an exact copy of what they need.
• Technique 15: Circulate – Move around the classroom to
engage and hold students accountable. (Clip 6)
• Technique 16: Break It Down – Break a problematic idea
down into component parts when students lack a clear
understanding.
Structuring and Delivering Your Lessons
• Technique 17: Ratio – Seek student input to solve
problems by asking questions and forcing cognitive
work out of students when they are ready.
• Technique 18: Check for Understanding – Gather
data and respond quickly.
• Technique 19: At Bats – Provide lots of practice.
• Technique 20: Exit Ticket – Measure the
effectiveness of your lesson with a single question.
• Technique 21: Take a Stand – Have students make
judgments and then defend or explain their
answers.
Engaging Students In Your Lesson
• Technique 22: Cold Call – Call on students
regardless of whether they have their hand up or
not. (Clips 7, 8, & 9)
• Technique 23: Call and Response – Teacher asks a
question and students respond in unison or choral
response.
• Technique 24: Pepper – A fast-paced, unpredictable
review of fundamentals with lots of chances of
participation in rapid succession and could be used
as a warm-up activity. (Clip 10)
Engaging Students In Your Lesson
• Technique 25: Wait Time – A strategic delay after
asking a question before seeking the answer. (Clip
11)
• Technique 26: Everybody Writes – Set your students
up for rigorous engagement by giving them the
opportunity to reflect first in writing before
discussing. (Clip 12)
• Technique 27: Vegas – A moment during class when
you might observe some production values: music,
lights, rhythm, dancing while still reinforcing the
day’s learning objectives.
Creating a Strong Classroom Culture
• Technique 28: Entry Routine – Make a habit out of what
efficient, productive and scholarly after a greeting and as
students take their seats and class begins.
• Technique 29: Do Now – A short activity that you have
written on the board or is waiting at their desks.
• Technique 30: Tight Transitions – Having quick and
routine transitions which students can execute without
extensive narration from the teacher. (Clip 13)
• Technique 31: Binder Control – Having a required format
for organizing papers within a binder.
Creating a Strong Classroom Culture
• Technique 32: SLANT – Sit up, Listen, Ask/Answer a
question, Nod your head, Track the speaker
• Technique 33: On Your Mark – Show students how
to be prepared and expect them to be so everyday.
• Technique 34: Seat Signals – Develop a set of
signals for common needs.
• Technique 35: Props – Public praise for students
who demonstrate excellence or exemplify virtues.
Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral
Expectations
• Technique 36: 100 Percent – Full compliance of
highest behavioral expectations (Clips 14, 15, & 16)
• Technique 37: What to Do – Give directions to
students in a way that provides clear, easy and
useful guidance
• Technique 38: Strong Voice – Economy of
Language, Do Not Talk Over, Do Not Engage, Square
Up/Stand Still, Quiet Power (Clip 17)
• Technique 39: Do It Again – Practice helps students
improve and it is often the best consequence. (Clip
18)
Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral
Expectations
• Technique 40: Sweat the Details – Plan your
environment so it seems an orderly and organized
place at all times.
• Technique 41: Threshold – Set expectations from
the minute students enter the door to the minute
they exit.
• Technique 42: No Warnings – Develop a scaled
system of incrementally larger consequences that
you can deliver reliably, fairly, and without
hesitation.
Building Character & Trust
• Technique 43: Positive Framing – Make corrections
consistently and positively. (Clip 19)
• Technique 44: Precise Praise – Do not trivialize
praise. Make it specific and genuine.
• Technique 45: Warm/Strict – You must be caring,
funny, warm, concerned, and nurturing as well as
strict, relentless and sometimes inflexible.
• Technique 46: The J-Factor – Finding joy in the work
of learning. (Clips 20 & 21)
Building Character & Trust
• Technique 47: Emotional Constancy – Take personal
emotions out of a situation and remain calm.
• Technique 48: Explain Everything – Make clear the
rationale behind decisions made in students’ best
interest and the way adults think on behalf of
students.
• Technique 49: Normalize Error – Getting it wrong
and then getting it right is one of the fundamental
processes for schooling. Respond to both as
completely normal.