Despite the persistence and determination with which I approached my summer reading list, I must say that today marked the first day of student teaching with the kids in the classroom, and I am just now going to start writing about Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. And by that what I really mean to say is that I am going to write about this wonderful compilation of field notes and observations until I pass out in five minutes because I teach my first lesson tomorrow!
For starters, I like how Lemov sets up this book by explicitly stating that this book is not a handbook, field guide, or a Bible that can promote any teacher to "super" teacher status. Rather, he asks the reader to consider the techniques he describes in light of their own teaching environment; to consider our own individual strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and how to use and exploit our strengths as we work on our weaknesses. This is the approach that he asks us to bring to each technique or strategy that he has listed and described. In addition, he mentions that these are observations, NOT research- or evidence-based practices. Therefore, I am going to look deeply into each technique in order to find any evidence that backs up these practices, and I am going to implement some of these practices myself this semester in order to determine what will work for me in my classroom setting.
Unfortunately that is all the energy I have tonight. Until next time!
For starters, I like how Lemov sets up this book by explicitly stating that this book is not a handbook, field guide, or a Bible that can promote any teacher to "super" teacher status. Rather, he asks the reader to consider the techniques he describes in light of their own teaching environment; to consider our own individual strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and how to use and exploit our strengths as we work on our weaknesses. This is the approach that he asks us to bring to each technique or strategy that he has listed and described. In addition, he mentions that these are observations, NOT research- or evidence-based practices. Therefore, I am going to look deeply into each technique in order to find any evidence that backs up these practices, and I am going to implement some of these practices myself this semester in order to determine what will work for me in my classroom setting.
Unfortunately that is all the energy I have tonight. Until next time!
