What it means:
Lead with purpose and compassion, setting and reinforcing norms for routines and behavior, in face-to-face learning and online.
More Detail
Lead the classroom includes the following:
- Lead with a firm, yet warm presence, in person and online
- Influence students with strong posture, voice, and online communication
- Model eagerness for learning
- Circulate throughout the classroom (and/or conduct check-ins online)
- Set norms for a successful learning environment
- Establish a culture of learning and growth in your classroom
- Conduct consistent procedures and routines
- Script, model, and reteach clear directions
- Respond to unique strengths and needs of each student
- Maximize all instructional time
- Follow a continuous behavior management cycle
- Set and reinforce high expectations
- Convey the consequence hierarchy
- Apply and assign consequences appropriately
- Use least invasive intervention—de-escalate behavior
- Introduce a positive incentive system to highlight exemplary learning behaviors aligned to your vision
- Anticipate proactive steps to prevent misbehaviors
- Describe positive behavior as it happens
See a one-page Instructional Excellence Summary covering all the key elements.
Videos—For Teachers & Multi-Classroom Leaders
Watch these short videos of educators discussing and demonstrating the elements of Lead the Classroom, organized by action:
Lead with a firm, yet warm presence
Classroom Strategies Help Meet Students’ NeedsMCL Fred Hoffmann shares strategies for managing the classroom to create an environment where students can be successful. | Lead Firmly but WarmlyMCL Tonya Reaves discusses her balance of fun and firmness to set the right tone for learning and success. | Creating a Positive Classroom Environment with AffirmationsMCL Candace Butler uses affirmations for herself and her students to create a safe and encouraging environment. |
Model eagerness for learningThe excitement is contagious as MCL Lara Harris shows her students how to tell a great story. |
Set norms for a successful learning environment
“Speak the Excellence” as Mentor and CoachMaster Reach Teacher Jimmel Williams discusses how he sets the proper tone of mutual respect in his classroom, and takes the role of mentor and coach for students with often highly challenging lives. | Hold Students Accountable for Group WorkBlended-Learning Teacher Lori Treiber explains her detailed system for students to hold one another accountable on group projects to set students up for success. | Set Classroom Expectations Together with StudentsWork with students to set classroom expectations with clear definitions to build relationships, provide accountability, and set norms, MCL Candace Butler says. |
Follow a continuous behavior management cycle
Follow Behavior Management Protocols to Hold Everyone AccountableFollow clear, positive behavior management protocols to hold students and educators accountable and keep parents informed, MCL Candace Butler says. |
Introduce a positive incentive system
Use Incentives to Reward and Help StudentsUse positive incentives, such as time with a favorite teacher, to reward students for positive behavior or help students turn around a bad day, MCL Candace Butler says. |
Discussion Questions
Use these discussion questions to help guide your instructional team through the elements of Lead the Classroom:
- Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are strengths for you or your team?
- Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are weaknesses for you or your team? Think about actions you never take, fail to take as often as needed, or do not take as well as needed to achieve strong learning growth consistently.
- What one to three specific changes will you or your team make to use your strengths more often or more consistently and improve weaknesses in the coming months?
- Make a brief action plan with specific goals, roles, and time by which you will make specific changes!
- Did your changes produce better learning results? If so, keep them. If not, think again about what other changes to make!
Study Guide
See this printable study guide with discussion questions and real examples from educators:
- For Multi-Classroom Leaders—Key Elements of Instructional Excellence: Lead the Classroom (PDF)
Instructional Excellence Support Tools
Use this tool and action list to guide and support your teachers:
- Instructional Excellence Action List: Lead the Classroom [Word]—print a copy of this detailed, checkable action list for each teacher you lead
- Instructional Excellence Support Guide Overview and Support Tool [Word]—use this tool to record observations, provide feedback, and identify next steps
Other Developmental Resources
See the following developmental resources, provided by other organizations, related to the elements of Lead the Classroom:
General Resources: Establish superior classroom leadership
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Managing Behavior (quick tutorial)
Teaching Channel: New Teacher Survival Guide, Classroom Management (video)
Edutopia: 19 Big and Small Classroom Management Strategies (short article)
Papers & Books:
Leverage Leadership: A Practical Guide to Building Excellent Schools (book)
Lead with a firm, yet warm presence, in person and online
Quick Resources:
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: The Recipe for Getting Kids To Do What You Asked (video)
Teach Like a Champion, Grab and Go Resource: Technique Combinations (tool)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Influence students with strong posture, voice and online communication
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Establishing Teacher Presence (short tutorial)
Expeditionary Learning Professional Learning Packs, Collaborative Culture: Teacher Presence (video series)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Model eagerness for learning
Quick Resources:
Responsive Classroom: Teaching Perseverance? Try Interactive Modeling (framework)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Circulate throughout the classroom (and/or conduct check-ins online)
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Scanning & Circulating (short tutorial)
Teach Like a Champion, Grab-n-Go Resource: Circulate (tool)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Set norms for a successful learning environment
Quick Resources:
Teaching Channel: Caring and Control, Create a Safe, Positive Classroom (video)
Teaching Tolerance, A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center: Classroom Strategies (tools)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Conduct consistent procedures and routines
Quick Resources:
The Teacher Toolkit: Teaching Procedures (video & templates)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: Verbal and Non-Verbal Feedback with Do It Again (video)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Script, model, and reteach clear directions
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Giving Clear Directions (quick tutorial)
Teaching Channel: Giving Efficient Directions, Sometimes Less is More (video)
Teach Like a Champion, Grab-n-Go Resource: Insufficient Academic What to Do Directions (activity)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Respond to unique strengths and needs of each student
Papers & Books:
Maximize all instructional time
Quick Resources:
Teaching Channel: Time’s Up! Effective Use of Instructional Time (video)
Teaching Channel: Strategies to Improve Transitions and Time Management (video)
Match Mini: Starting with a Do Now (quick tutorial)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: Systems and Routines Is An Academic Tool, Too (blog)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: Megan Broome Makes Routines Academic (video)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Follow a continuous behavior management cycle
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Proactive Management Mentality (quick tutorial)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: On Behavior: The Intro to Chapter 10 (with video)
Papers & Books:
Planning Classroom Management: A Five-Step Process to Creating A Positive Learning Environment (book)
Set and reinforce high expectations
Quick Resources:
Teach Like a Champion, Grab in Go Resources: Reinforcing Classroom Expectations (tool)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Convey the consequence hierarchy
Quick Resources:
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: Ana O’Neil’s Art of the Consequence (video)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Apply and assign consequences appropriately
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Reactive Management Moves (quick tutorial)
Edutopia: How to Make Consequences Work (blog)
Teach Like A Champion, Grab in Go Resources: Consequence vs. Correction Case Studies (tool)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Use least invasive intervention—de-escalate behavior
Quick Resources:
Match Mini: Reacting to Minor Misbehavior (quick tutorial)
Match Mini: De-escalating Meltdowns (quick tutorial & tool)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: Correct minor off-task behaviors while still teaching (video)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: The Whisper Correction (video)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Introduce a positive incentive system to highlight exemplary learning behaviors aligned to your vision
Quick Resources:
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support OESP Technical Assistance Center: SWPBIS for Beginners (framework, video, tools)
Teaching Channel: Classroom Economy, Earn, Save, Spend (video)
Papers & Books:
Assertive Discipline: Positive Behavior Management for Today’s Classroom (book)
ASCD: Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (book)
Anticipate proactive steps to prevent misbehaviors
Quick Resources:
Teaching Channel: SLANT, Get Ready to Learn (video)
Expeditionary Learning, Professional Learning Packs: Communication with Nonverbal Signals (video & tools)
Teaching Channel: Tracking to Increase Students’ Focus (video)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
Describe positive behavior as it happens
Quick Resources:
Aspire: Positive Narration (video)
Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov’s Field Notes: A Tale of Two Affirmations (blog)
Teach Like a Champion, Grab-n-Go Resource: Planning Positive Reinforcement with Precise Praise (tool)
CT3: Put Growth Mindset into Practice via Precise Praise (blog)
Papers & Books:
Teach Like a Champion, Field Guide 2.0 (book)
Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap (book)
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