Teach Like a Champion

Doug Lemov’s "Teach Like a Champion" grew out of his work as a managing director at Uncommon Schools, a charter network, where he and colleagues videotaped and analyzed highly effective teachers in real classrooms. The book’s central argument is that great teaching is not primarily a matter of innate charisma but of specific, learnable techniques that can be named, practiced, and refined. Lemov identifies dozens of these techniques, grouped into categories such as setting high academic expectations, planning that ensures students master material, structuring and delivering lessons, and building character and trust. Among the best-known techniques are "No Opt Out," which ensures a student who cannot answer a question eventually gives the correct response rather than being allowed to disengage; "Cold Call," in which the teacher calls on students regardless of whether they have raised a hand; "Wait Time," extending pauses after questions; "Stretch It," pushing students to justify or extend correct answers; and "Format Matters," requiring complete sentences and correct grammar. Other techniques include "Do Now," a short warm-up task begun the moment students enter, and "SLANT," a acronym for sitting up, listening, asking questions, nodding, and tracking the speaker. The book is organized around these named techniques rather than a narrative or characters, and it draws its evidence from filmed lessons in high-poverty urban schools. Its emphasis on concrete, observable teacher actions—what Lemov calls a "taxonomy" of effective instruction—made it widely used in teacher training and professional development. Later editions and a companion field guide expanded the set of techniques and added video resources. The book is prescriptive and classroom-focused rather than theoretical, aiming to give teachers a shared vocabulary for instructional practice.