One sentence summary
This book provides 49 techniques to empower teachers to enable students to reach their highest academic potential and pave the way for college success.
Book Genre
Non-fiction, educational
Main topic of the book
Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on Path to College is a book dedicated to teaching teachers how to increase student achievement and create a successful path for college bound students and lifelong learners.
Key Ideas
- Detailed and practical teaching methods: Doug Lemov goes through in depth methods and practices that teachers can take into consideration or utilize in their classrooms to be effective teachers and positively impact student achievement.
- Research-based techniques: The techniques researched and discussed in this book are based upon over a decade of instruction and teaching experience from Doug Lemov, as well as other successful leaders and teachers.
- Strategic use of classroom and student time: Empower teachers to understand how to use their time strategically, whether it is instructional time in class or out-of-classroom time for building relationships with their students.
- Proven tools for teaching: The author provides rigorous and proven tools and strategies for teaching and engaging students involved in lessons.
- Insight into improving teacher and student performance: valuable insight into the elements of teaching and learning, class culture, student achievement, and college and career readiness.
Main parts and a short summary
- Lesson Preparation: Lemov emphasizes the importance of preparing lessons well in advance, considering the content, the level at which the students are at, and the likely challenges they may face in understanding it.
- Creating Classroom Culture: Lemov focuses on creating a classroom culture that is conducive to learning, emphasizing the importance of high expectations for students, setting guidelines and implementing rules, as well as rewarding positive behaviors and challenging negative ones.
- Expectations & Routines: Lemov discusses how to implement routines, rituals, and student-to-student accountability in the classroom so that the best use of instructional time is achieved.
- Teaching & Managing Discussions: Lemov focuses on the importance of creating an environment for effective and meaningful classroom discussions, where students learn from one another, build knowledge, and are encouraged to think critically and have meaningful takeaways.
- Effective Questioning: Lemov emphasizes the importance of effective questioning, using a variety of methods and allocating the right amount of time to listen to student responses and provide meaningful feedback.
- Engagement: Lemov points out the importance of engagement in the classroom, and discusses how to best use instructional and non-instructional activities to maintain student interest and foster development.
Key Takeaways
- Teachers need to prepare their lessons well in advance and take the time to consider the level at which the students are at and the possibilities of misunderstanding certain content.
- Create classrooms with clear expectations and rules, and utilize routines and rituals to better manage instructional and out of class times.
- Engage students through different activities and use of space, and using methods such as discussion and effective questioning to foster understanding and foster critical thinking.
- Empower teachers and students to reach their highest academic potential and pave the way for college success.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Doug Lemov is an educational consultant and the author of Teach Like a Champion. Though he initially pursued theater as a profession, he eventually turned to teaching in some of the most challenging schools in New York City. Through his experience, he has learned firsthand what makes a successful teacher and he has distilled those techniques into his book.
Target Audience
Educators, administrators and anyone in the education field looking to improve their teaching, as well as those interested in improving student achievement and college readiness.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College was first published by Jossey-Bass on August 19, 2010.