Simple Techniques to make you a good teacher

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126743261&sc=nl&cc=es-20100516

I really liked this article. I think everyone should check it out if you get a chance. Or, even better- buy the book :). The book is called "Teach like a Champion: 49 techniques that put students on the path to College" by Doug Lemov. This article is just an interview with the author and it talks about some of the topics in the book. The author researched "good teachers" and listed out techniques they used to be successful. One way he found the "good teachers" was by looking comparing poverty levels to test scores- those teachers who had classes that were high in both he considered a good teacher. To summarize some of the techniques in the book, he says to teach kids how to pass out papers. This seems like a very minute detail, but he has seen papers get passed out in 10 seconds. This can save 41/2 days of teaching a year! Teach kids how to organize a binder. He has a technique called 100%- everyone follows directions and there are no excuses. Another technique is called "Cold Call"- just means to call on everyone, not as a punishment but to make sure all students are engaged. Positive Framing- Start by assuming the best from everyone and students won't quit on you because they know you believ in them. The techniques are more about teaching students to be lifelong learners- teaching the student, not the lessons.

I have this book on my list of books to read! I'll let you know how it is whenever I get around to it!