Show Call is one of my very favorite teaching techniques and if you’re a reader of this blog you know that Spencer Davis is one of our favorite teachers to study. So what could be better than a video of Spencer modeling Show Call. Context: Spencer’s sixth graders are reading Wonder. They’ve just read a passage…
Just watching some video this morning a recent lesson of Spencer Davis’ at University Prep in the Bronx. I’ve posted about Spencer’s teaching recently (and will post about again soon). He’s a master of subtly and lovingly building academic culture with his sixth graders. You can see plenty of that in this recent post…
My friend Ravi Gupta recently interviewed me on the Sweat the Technique podcast and one of the techniques he asked about most was Positive Framing–Technique 59 in TLAC 3.0. His questions made me realize how critical this technique was- how frequently it is at the center of efforts to build vibrant and successful culture, in…
Erica Woolway and I had a great visit to University Prep Middle School in the Bronx yesterday. What a warm and positive school with real rigor and a focus on knowledge. Kids focused, worked hard, took pride in their learning and seemed genuinely happy. One of the classes we especially loved was Spencer Davis’ sixth grade…
Teaching writing well is one of the most important things we can do in the classroom as teachers. The ability to capture and idea with precision and nuance is deeply connected to the ability to generate ideas of precision and nuance. And as Judith Hochman wisely points out in The Writing Revolution, there’s a big difference…