On the Monday of Teacher Appreciation Week, my principal
gave each of us a book called “Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques That Put
Students on the Path to College,” by Doug Lemov. I actually enjoy reading books
about teaching, whether they are about classroom management, curriculum, or
just how we tick. I happened to be between books, so the timing was just right
to crack it open. I became hooked right away. The gist of this book is that kids of any age want to learn and want to be successful, but that they often do not know the language and behavior of success. As teachers, it is our responsibility to teach them in a way that creates a pathway to college and beyond. Lemov and his partners watched hours of videos of teachers in the classroom and broke the best teachers’ skills into specific techniques that any teacher can learn to use.
