Doug Lemov's field notes

Reflections on teaching, literacy, coaching, and practice.

09.14.13 Struggles for Shared Vocabulary–What I Have in Common with Paolo Di Canio

At our workshops we often talk about the importance of shared vocabulary–the power of being able to communicate accurately, quickly, without ambiguity about technical aspects of performance. This is true whether you are a teacher (“That was great but what if you unbundled your questions a little more and added a “Stretch It”) or a principal;…


03.19.13 Annals of Coaching: Chris Condron’s Desert Island Drill

Well, soccer fans and coaching geeks, it’s time for the latest installment of Desert Island Drills, in which I ask a coach to describe the one drill they’d take with them to a desert island–assuming, I suppose, that they also had a team there that they were trying to prepare for long-term success.  Previous posts here and here.  This…