Teach Like a Champion 3.0

1. Champion teachers use specific, actionable techniques to drive student learning

"Great teaching is an art. In the other arts—painting, sculpture, the writing of novels—great masters leverage a proficiency with basic tools to transform the rawest of materials (stone, paper, ink) into the most valued assets in society."

Teaching as craftsmanship. Like any art form, teaching requires mastery of fundamental techniques. These techniques are not abstract theories, but concrete, actionable tools that teachers can implement immediately in their classrooms. Examples include:

• Cold Call: Calling on students regardless of whether they've raised their hands
• No Opt Out: Ensuring students who struggle with a question eventually answer it correctly
• Right is Right: Holding out for high-quality answers instead of accepting partial responses

Continuous improvement. Great teachers constantly refine their craft, adapting techniques to their individual style and students' needs. They view teaching as a lifelong learning process, always seeking to improve their skills and effectiveness.

2. Effective lesson preparation is crucial for maximizing student engagement and learning

"If you're not sure of exactly what a great answer should contain, you won't be able to hold students to an exacting standard."

Exemplar planning. Champion teachers invest time in preparing model answers to key questions before class. This allows them to:

• Guide discussions more effectively
• Quickly identify gaps in student understanding
• Provide clearer, more specific feedback

Active preparation. Beyond just planning content, effective teachers consider:

• How students will participate (e.g., through writing, discussion, or hands-on activities)
• Potential student errors and misconceptions
• Strategies for differentiating instruction
• Time management and pacing of activities

3. Checking for understanding is essential to bridge the gap between teaching and learning

"The point of No Opt Out is to cause the original student to give the correct answer and successfully solve the problem or encode the information."

Beyond simple questioning. Effective teachers use a variety of techniques to assess student understanding:

• Replace Self-Report: Avoid asking "Does everyone understand?" and instead use targeted questions
• Show Call: Publicly analyze student work to identify strengths and areas for improvement
• Affirmative Checking: Require students to demonstrate mastery before moving on

Culture of error. Create an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning:

• Normalize error by discussing common misconceptions
• Praise students for identifying and correcting their own mistakes
• Use errors as teachable moments for the whole class

4. Building a strong academic ethos creates a culture of high expectations and rigor

"Format Matters is about how to respond in the way that's most beneficial to students when an answer is almost right—pretty good, but not 100 percent."

High standards for all. Champion teachers consistently communicate and reinforce high expectations:

• Right is Right: Push for precision and completeness in student responses
• Stretch It: Challenge students to extend their thinking and apply knowledge in new ways
• Format Matters: Insist on proper academic language and presentation

Growth mindset. Foster a classroom culture that values effort and improvement:

• Praise process and persistence rather than just correct answers
• Encourage students to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth
• Provide specific, actionable feedback to help students improve

5. Structured lesson formats optimize learning and time management

"The way we start class sends a strong message to students about the culture, purpose, and expectations of the community they are entering, so teachers should be intentional about it."

Do Now. Begin each class with a short, focused activity that students can complete independently:

• Previews the day's lesson
• Reviews recent material
• Builds essential background knowledge

Exit Ticket. End lessons with a brief assessment to gauge understanding:

• Provides immediate feedback on lesson effectiveness
• Informs planning for future lessons
• Reinforces key concepts for students

Consistent routines. Establish clear procedures for common classroom activities:

• Transitions between activities
• Distributing and collecting materials
• Participating in discussions

6. Pacing techniques maintain student engagement and maximize instructional time

"Every Minute Matters."

Change the Pace. Vary the tempo and types of activities to maintain student focus:

• Alternate between teacher-led instruction and student practice
• Incorporate brief, high-energy activities to re-engage students
• Use countdown timers to create urgency and focus

Brighten the Lines. Make transitions between activities clear and efficient:

• Use consistent verbal and nonverbal cues to signal changes
• Establish routines for quick transitions
• Minimize "dead time" between activities

7. Increasing student participation through questioning builds critical thinking skills

"Cold Calling also helps in another way. It helps you to move quickly through your questions."

Cold Call. Randomly select students to answer questions:

• Increases participation and engagement
• Allows for quicker pacing and more rigorous discussions
• Provides a more accurate assessment of class-wide understanding

Wait Time. Allow sufficient time for students to process questions and formulate responses:

• Improves the quality and depth of student answers
• Encourages more students to participate
• Signals that thoughtful responses are valued

8. Writing activities deepen understanding and improve retention of material

"Everybody Writes."

Frequent writing opportunities. Incorporate writing into various parts of the lesson:

• Do Now: Start class with a brief writing prompt
• Stop and Jot: Pause discussions for short writing reflections
• Exit Ticket: End class with a written summary or reflection

Art of the Sentence. Challenge students to craft precise, powerful sentences:

• Focus on specific grammatical structures or vocabulary
• Encourage students to revise and refine their writing
• Use exemplar sentences as models for analysis and imitation

9. Classroom discussions foster collaborative learning and deeper analysis

"Turn and Talk."

Structured discussions. Use specific techniques to promote productive conversations:

• Turn and Talk: Brief, paired discussions to process information
• Habits of Discussion: Teach and reinforce effective discussion behaviors
• Batch Process: Collect multiple responses before diving into analysis

Inclusive participation. Ensure all students have opportunities to contribute:

• Use equity sticks or random name generators to call on students
• Implement discussion protocols that require input from all group members
• Teach active listening skills and ways to build on others' ideas

10. Well-designed procedures and routines maximize learning time and minimize disruptions

"Engineer Efficiency."

Threshold. Establish clear expectations for entering the classroom:

• Greet students at the door
• Have materials and initial activities ready
• Reinforce positive behaviors immediately

Habits of Attention. Teach and reinforce active listening behaviors:

• SLANT: Sit up, Listen, Ask and answer questions, Nod your head, Track the speaker
• Use nonverbal cues to redirect attention
• Praise students who demonstrate exemplary focus

11. High behavioral expectations create a positive learning environment

"What to Do."

Clear expectations. Communicate specific, actionable behaviors:

• Break complex tasks into step-by-step instructions
• Use consistent language for common directions
• Model expected behaviors and have students practice them

Positive framing. Address misbehavior in a constructive manner:

• Assume the best intentions from students
• Focus on the desired behavior rather than the negative action
• Use a calm, neutral tone when correcting behavior

12. Building student motivation and trust is foundational to effective teaching

"Safe, successful, and known."

Positive relationships. Foster connections with students while maintaining appropriate boundaries:

• Show genuine interest in students' lives and experiences
• Celebrate student successes, both academic and personal
• Maintain high expectations while offering support and encouragement

Joy Factor. Incorporate moments of fun and excitement into lessons:

• Use games and competitions to review material
• Celebrate academic achievements with class rituals
• Share your own enthusiasm for the subject matter

Emotional constancy. Maintain a consistent, calm demeanor:

• Respond to challenges with composure
• Model resilience and problem-solving
• Create a predictable, safe environment for learning

Last updated: October 6, 2024