S5E08: Doug Lemov on “What to Do” and Active Observation Techniques

This book provides actionable guidance from real-life educators and instructional champions. It is divided into two parts: 'The Core of the Core' and 'The Fundamentals'. The first part focuses on four key ideas from the Common Core: reading harder texts, close reading, reading more nonfiction, and writing directly from the text. The second part delves into the fundamentals of reading instruction, including vocabulary, interactive reading, and student autonomy. The book includes over 40 video clips of outstanding teachers and is grounded in advice from successful classrooms nationwide.

This book is the revised, expanded, and up-to-date revision of Doug Lemov’s study of the craft of teaching. It includes new and updated teaching techniques, the latest evidence from cognitive science and culturally responsive teaching practices, and an expanded companion video collection. The techniques help teachers build students’ background knowledge, move learning into long-term memory, and connect their teaching with the curriculum content for tangible improvement in learning outcomes. The book also includes extensive discussions of research connecting the techniques to cognitive and social sciences and updates on issues in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.