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Week 4 Reflection

Braden L. Anama

School and Education and Behavioral Sciences, Chaminade University of Honolulu

EDUC 632 Learning Environments

Dr. Brina Ganigan

December 9, 2022
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Week 4 Reflection

In this paper, we continue to explore Doug Lemov’s (2015) techniques to teach like a

champion. We examine the “I/we/you” approach, the do now technique, the “board=paper”

technique, and the control the game technique.

I/We/You Approach

The I/We/You approach is an outline of the progression that responsibility of

understanding and applying the content should take place (Lemov, 2015, p. 157-161). Lemov

(2015, pp. 157-164) further explains that “I” will explain or demonstrate what you need to

know, “we” will go through examples and practice what you learned, and “you” will practice on

your own. This approach is like learning to ride a bike. The parent shows the child how to get on

and pedal, then the child practices with the parent supporting the bike, then finally the child

rides on their own. As with the aforementioned simile of riding a bike, this structure is

important for lessons as it provides support for the student’s learning. If someone were to jump

straight to riding the bike on their own, they would likely fall without learning anything. This

would discourage the learner, which we as educators want to avoid. Following the “I/We/You”

approach allows educators to teach new concepts, provide support while students are learning,

then allow students to practice and display their understanding of the newly learned topic.

Do Now

Just as great speeches have a hook, great lessons have a “Do Now” activity. The “Do

Now” enhances the lesson and student learning by utilizing the time before the lesson begins,

while students are still arriving, to introduce and engage your students to the contents of your
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lesson (Lemov, 2015, p. 161-164). In addition, “Do Now” is beneficial to classroom management

as it creates a routine for students to start learning. Do now conditions students to understand

that learning begins as soon as you arrive, reducing the wasted time that can occur at the

beginning of class.

Board=Paper Technique

Traditional notetaking is important for students because helps to teach students how to

model their notetaking (Lemov, 2015, p. 170-171). Students will then develop notetaking

autonomy, then notetaking independence (Lemov, p. 170-171). This allows students to be

better prepared for situations where there is no visual for students to copy. Notetaking

independent students would still be able to format notes that will provide value. It is helpful to

guide students through the notetaking process because your students may not have been

taught how to take good notes. As Lemov astutely put it, “students often have to learn how to

be students as much as they need to learn content and skills” (Lemov, p. 169). One thing to

consider is that there is no “one size fits all” method of notetaking. I was taught the Cornell

method in middle school, but I did not like it. I felt that it had so many unnecessary steps, with

creating questions and summarizing, that it resulted in me disliking the class that required the

notes. I was later taught the outline method by my chemistry teacher in high school. It fit my

view on notetaking, and as a result I still use the outline method today.

Control the Game

Reading aloud is important because it helps to promote proper reading practice in students

(Lemov, 2015, p. 172). In particular, skipping words and dropping suffixes are poor reading habits that
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can be addressed by oral reading. In addition, teachers can correct mispronunciations immediately. As

oral reading helps students by fixing students’ reading habits, it also helps with student learning in all

subjects. Nearly all subjects have textbooks and required readings. Correcting students’ reading habits

would help students in correctly reading their required readings.

References

Lemov, D. (2015). Teach like a champion 2.0: 62 techniques that put students on the path to

college. (2nd Edition) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.