Orysa Stein- "What Great Teachers Do Differently"

SUMMARY:

The book I decided to review is titled “What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most” by Todd Whitaker. This particular book was the second edition published. The introduction begins by explaining the this book will not only describe what great teachers do but that by practice, each of us can “move into their ranks”. Three things great teachers do, continually focus on students first, see things through their students’ point of view, and when they say something, they mean it. The book is divided into 19 chapters that give advice on a variety of different educational issues. Within this report I would like to go over some of the key concepts that I found important to share from the book.

RESOURCES WITHIN THE BOOK:

A very important beginning note from the book that I would like to share is from chapter two which is titled “It’s People, Not Programs”. A lot times I believe people go into schools looking at the different programs they have to offer and believe that will be what helps their children succeed. Whitaker talks about the importance of having teachers who are inspiring to their students, not the programs that are offered. If a great teacher inspires students, they will believe that their school is a great school. In the reverse, a teacher isn’t inspiring or “great”, then the student will view the school as less then great. As well, if a parent takes note of a teacher who isn’t inspiring their children, they will see the school as, “less-than-stellar no matter how many awards [their child] wins, no matter how many students earn top test scores, and no matter how many plaques adorn the main office” (Whitaker, 2012, p. 7). Whitaker goes onto talking about how teachers will each take a different approach to the way they teach but it’s the teachers who use the approach that focuses on the students and not the programs. The main point from this chapter and a key thing to remember is, “Great teachers never forget that it is people, not programs, that determine the quality of a school” (Whitaker, 2012, p. 12).  

Chapter three talks about “The Power of Expectations”. Whitaker points out, “Great teachers focus on expectations. Other teachers focus on rules. The least effective teachers focus on the consequences of breaking the rules” (Whitaker, 2012, p. 13). Apparently, by focusing on expectations of good behavior, that’s what great teachers will get. The key to this is to establish relationships with the students so that they want to meet these expectations. The teachers may have predetermined expectations that they have shared with the class, which will help them to achieve these because they have known previously what was expected of them. As well, a teacher must follow through and be consistent with their expectations of their students throughout the school year.

Chapter six is a short chapter entitled “High Expectations- for Whom?”, and yet is carries with it a strong message that I would like to share. That message is, “Great teachers have high expectations for students but even higher expectations for themselves” (Whitaker, 2012, p. 34). If you do not have high expectations for yourself, why should you be asking your students to have high expectations themselves? As a teacher, you must strive to engage your students, and if some students are not focused, don’t just leave them behind. A great teacher would ask what they themselves could do differently to gain that student’s focus again.

"How broad is your vision?" Chapter eight asks this question in relation to how teachers think about how their actions are going to affect the things around them. Whitaker mentions, "Focusing on the students first can help you maintain a positive attitude" (Whitaker, 2012, p. 47). When things seem rough at school, the great teachers, and any teacher for that matter, needs to remember the reasons why they chose education in the first place. 

I feel as though chapter nine is one of, if not the most important, chapter in this whole book. The chapter is entitled "Ten Days Out of Ten. An important point to note is, "Effective teachers treat everyone with respect, everyday. Even the best teachers may not like all of their students, but they act as if they do. And great teachers understand the power of praise" (Whitaker, 2012, p. 49). Already in my practicum, I have experienced the opposite of this point, which makes me really sad. For all of the future educators out there, you need to take this concept and embed it in your head, "Great teachers create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools. They treat every person with respect" (Whitaker, 2012, p. 56). EVERY PERSON. Do not let stereotypes drag down your ideas about a student. 

CRITIQUE:

“What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most” by Todd Whitaker is an insightful book for a first year education student. Whitaker’s experiences with teachers, administration, and research have helped me view what I am doing in the classroom more specifically and how I may improve upon it to become a “great” teacher. The book itself is a light read which is perfect for people who are busy (as we constantly seem to be in education). I’d advise this book to be read by new teachers or perhaps teachers who may want to increase their effectiveness within their classrooms. The only thing I found was that the advice given, though had many really good examples, wasn’t exactly the most mind-blowing advice because it was pretty general. The author did have a lot of research to back up his findings and was rather positive in his writings. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 rating based on the specific examples, easy readability, simple layout, and little reviews of what great teachers do at the end of each chapter. I found that one sentence reviews helpful because it would be easy to make them into a list if I wanted to create a poster for myself (which I may end up doing). I want to conclude with a small but important thing to think about when it comes to teaching and respect towards our students, they are your focus and your goal.

REFERENCE:

Whitaker, T. (2012). What great teachers do differently: seventeen things that matter most (2nd ed.). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.