Doug Lemov's field notes

Reflections on teaching, literacy, coaching, and practice.

03.25.20 The Bright Mirror: On the Classrooms We Suddenly Left Behind

This is a strange post to write at the present moment–but also hopefully relevant. It’s about the last video of the old world–classroom teaching with a teacher and 30 kids and a book–my team and I watched before classrooms went dark and we all went to online. After writing all last week about things we can…


04.03.13 TLaC 2.0: Adding Stretch It to No Opt Out (video)

I’m in California this week so have been slow to post and respond to comments…. but the great news (for me) is that I am out here to do a two-day workshop for teachers and leaders at the highly–and justifyably–vaunted Aspire Public Schools. I’m especially excited because I always learn a ton from the smart and reflective…


03.12.13 TLaC Clips: Eric Snider’s Joy Factor (video)

I recently got a request for more examples of Joy Factor at the middle school level. As I was watching some great new footage from our pals over at Achievement First, I noticed this Joy Factor moment from AF Bushwick Middle School’s Eric Snider.         Some thoughts as you watch: We always try to…


12.03.12 Writing Gap, Slow Play, Show Call (video)

One of the great things about Teach Like a Champion—to me—is how quickly what’s in the book gets improved on and added to by great teachers and educators.   There’s so much I’ve learned since writing the original that I can’t wait to add to a second edition someday.  If there were one aspect of classroom instruction I’d want…