Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion is built on a powerful idea: great teaching comes from mastering concrete, repeatable techniques. He developed this field guide by studying teachers who consistently achieved exceptional results, especially in schools serving underserved communities. He identified the specific moves they used—and turned them into teachable, trainable techniques that we have covered in this free Teach like a Champion summary.
What It Means to Teach Like a Champion
In this third edition of Teach Like a Champion, Lemov incorporates insights from cognitive science to explain why the techniques work, and refines the tone and tools from earlier editions.
His goal is to ensure every student, regardless of background, receives effective, research-informed instruction.
In this free Teach like a Champion summary, we’ve arranged the key ideas in 2 parts:
- 5 overarching principles for building expert mental models
- 11 principles and 63 techniques for effective, high-impact teaching
Part 1 – 5 Principles for Strong Mental Models
Great teachers are perceptive. Like expert athletes or surgeons, they can spot key details and respond with precision. This comes from strong mental models—internal frameworks that shape what they notice, and what they do.
Here are 5 principles to build expert mental models for teaching:
• Leverage long-term memory and manage working memory. Our short-term working memory (which processes new information) is limited, while our long-term memory (which stores knowledge permanently) is vast. Help students transfer knowledge into long-term memory, so they can recall and apply it more easily.
• Habits reduce mental load and accelerate learning. Help students to internalize helpful student behaviors and thinking processes until they become automatic. Once a habit is formed—such as annotating a text or restating a peer’s idea clearly—they’re executed automatically, freeing up mental energy for deeper thinking.
• Students learn what they focus on. Selective attention—the ability to tune out distractions—is a key predictor of academic success. Guide students’ attention deliberately to build that skill over time.
• Motivation is social. Students are deeply influenced by group norms, peer behaviors, and classroom culture. Shape these norms to create a culture where students participate, value hard work, and celebrate learning.
• Relationships matter. Students are more likely to meet high expectations when they feel safe, seen, and supported. Trust and connection create the foundation for academic success.
These 5 principles form the “why” behind the teaching techniques described by Doug Lemov below.
Part 2 – 63 Techniques for High-Impact Teaching
Lemov explains 11 crucial principles for high-impact teaching, and translates them into 63 practical teaching techniques that you can start using right away. In this free summary, we’ll zoom in on a few sample techniques. You can get the full breakdown of all 63 summaries in our complete 22-page book summary. Here’s a visual summary:
PRINCIPLE 1: Prepare in Advance
Effective teachers don’t just plan what to teach, but also how to teach. They anticipate challenges, structure the lesson flow, craft instructional content, and tailor their approach to meet students’ needs.
Technique 1 – Define model answers: Script out exemplar responses to clarify what a top-performing student might say or write. Use these to guide your approach and questions, assess progress in class, spot gaps, redirect discussions, and adjust instruction in real time.
Technique 2: Anticipate challenges and errors: Plan for likely mistakes and misconceptions, so you can spot and address them calmly and effectively. Prepare examples, follow-up questions, and strategies to address common misconceptions and specific gaps as they arise.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 3: Map out your delivery
- Technique 4: Double plan
- Technique 5: Use knowledge organizers (KO)
PRINCIPLE 2: Check for Understanding
Don’t assume that silence or nods mean comprehension. Use these techniques to gather data constantly, check for visible proof of understanding, and adapt instruction to close knowledge gaps.
Technique 6: Check, don’t assume. Avoid asking, “Do you understand?” This produces false positives because students (i) may think they understand when they don’t, or (ii) feel uncomfortable to admit confusion.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 7: Use retrieval practice
- Technique 8: Standardize the format
- Technique 9: Observe actively
- Technique 10: Scan for responses
- Technique 11: Insert strategic checkpoints
- Technique 12: Normalize mistakes
- Technique 13: Highlight students’ work
- Technique 14: Track and reflect
Our complete Teach Like a Champion summary shows how you can use these techniques to perfect the science of learning to an art form.
PRINCIPLE 3: Promote Academic Rigor
Great teachers create a classroom culture where academic work is valued and reinforced. That means setting high expectations, building a strong work ethic, and ensuring students take pride in quality work.
Technique 15: No opting out. Don’t accept “I don’t know” as the final answer. Make sure the student eventually answers the question, even if it takes a few steps to get there. Always ensure that everyone participates, feels supported, and no one gives up.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 16: Insist on full accuracy
- Technique 17: Challenge them
- Technique 18: Raise the language bar
- Technique 19: Don’t apologize for rigor
In our full Teach like a Champion summary we explain how to apply these teaching strategies to help your student meet the expectations that are set.
PRINCIPLE 4: Design Effective Lesson Structures
A well-structured lesson builds momentum, reduces friction, and maximizes learning time. Use these techniques to shape lessons where students stay focused and engaged from start to finish.
Technique 20: Launch with a “Do Now”. Start each lesson with a short task that students can do independently, like reviewing prior content or previewing the upcoming topic. This entry routine shifts students into focused learning while you take attendance or set up.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 21: Break it into steps
- Technique 22: Board = Paper
- Technique 23: Do accountable independent reading (AIR)
- Technique 24: Read aloud
- Technique 25: Circulate with purpose
- Technique 26: Use exit tickets
Our complete Teach like a Champion summary explains in full detail how to incorporate these methods into your teaching craft.
PRINCIPLE 5: Maintain a Productive Pace
Pacing isn’t about going faster, but sustaining momentum, managing energy levels, and keeping students mentally engaged. The key is to manage time and transitions in a way that optimizes class rhythm and maximizes focus and learning.
Technique 27: Change the pace. Vary the type and tempo of activities throughout the lesson. Switch strategically between 6 activity types: digesting knowledge, guided practice, independent practice, discussion with peers, quiet reflection and retrieval practice.
Remaining Techniques:
In the full version of our Teach like a Champion summary, we walk you through the details on how to execute these processes to sustain productivity and improve student engagement in class.
- Technique 28: Add clear boundaries
- Technique 29: Use hand-raising
- Technique 30: Work the clock
- Technique 31: Make every minute count
PRINCIPLE 6: Get Students to Think
Great teachers ask better questions that increase the share of thinking done by students. These techniques help increase the ratio of student thinking while keeping rigor and participation.
Technique 32: Ask “real” questions that prompt real thinking. State the point directly, then follow up with a prompt like “What does that suggest?” or “Why might this be important?”
Remaining Techniques:
Our full Teach like a Champion summary teaches how to use these strategies to encourage students to use their critical thinking skills.
- Technique 33: Stretch wait time
- Technique 34: Cold call strategically
- Technique 35: Use “call and response”
- Technique 36: Plan your means of participation (MOP)
- Technique 37: Break down the thinking
PRINCIPLE 7: Get More Students to Write
Writing forces students to form, refine, and express their ideas clearly. Use these techniques to embed meaningful writing into your lessons.
Technique 38: Get everyone to write. Get every student to explore and clarity their thoughts (by jotting them down) before sharing.
Remaining Techniques:
In our complete summary, we provide more examples and steps showing how to utilize these techniques to boost your students’ creativity.
- Technique 39: Build the “silent solo” habit
- Technique 40: Write before you discuss
- Technique 41: Craft powerful sentences
- Technique 42: Make revision a habit
PRINCIPLE 8: Get More Students to Discuss
Discussions shouldn’t be dominated by a few voices or go off-topic. Use these techniques to help more students learn to think, speak, and listen effectively.
Technique 43: Use “turn and talk”. Cue students to have a short, structured discussion with a partner. For best results preassign partners, keep the discussions short and boost accountability.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 44: Build discussion habits
- Technique 45: Batch students’ sharing
- Technique 46: Stay on topic
PRINCIPLE 9: Run Classrooms Like Clockwork
An efficient classroom is like a well-run organization. These techniques help you build procedures and routines that reduce friction, build autonomy, and free up mental energy for learning.
Technique 47: Start strong. A lesson begins the moment students enter the room. Use the first 2 minutes to set the tone. Greet your students and transition smoothly into focused learning.
Remaining Techniques
- Technique 48: Build attentional habits
- Technique 49: Engineer efficiency
- Technique 50: Turn routines into habits
- Technique 51: Correct and repeat
Our complete 22-page Teach like a Champion summary provides a breakdown on how to create a strong classroom culture.
PRINCIPLE 10: Set and Enforce High Expectations
Great classrooms are built on high standards and consistent boundaries. Use these techniques to create a safe, orderly classroom learning environment where expectations are followed and every student can succeed.
Technique 52: Give clear directions so students know what to do by giving them a step by step guide, if required.
Remaining Techniques: In our full book summary, we breakdown Doug Lemov’s remaining techniques to building and maintaining high behavioural expectations.
- Technique 53: Let them see you watching
- Technique 54: Make expectations visible
- Technique 55: Correct with subtlety
- Technique 56: Stay calm and firm
- Technique 57: Apply thoughtful consequences
- Technique 58: Speak with presence
PRINCIPLE 11: Inspire Trust and Motivation
Students learn best when they feel seen, supported, and inspired. These techniques help you to build trust and motivate students to grow into their best selves.
Technique 59: Use positive framing to give feedback in a way that reinforces belief in the student’s ability to improve.
Remaining Techniques:
- Technique 60: Give precise praise
- Technique 61: Be simultaneously caring and demanding
- Technique 62: Be emotionally steady
- Technique 63: Make lessons joyful
Here’s a visual summary of all 63 techniques in Teach Like a Champion 3.0:
Getting the Most from Teach Like a Champion
Great teaching is built on mastery, feedback, and deliberate practice. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, these 63 techniques can help to sharpen your craft, raise expectations, and help all students to thrive. If you’d like to zoom in on the ideas above and get more detailed insights, examples and actionable tips, do check out full book summary bundle that includes an infographic, 22-page text summary, and a 37-minute audio summary.
This is a voluminous book, which includes templates, examples and scenarios for each of the techniques covered in this free summary, along with tips for combining techniques and adapting them to your style. You can purchase the book here or visit teachlikeachampion.com for video clips and deeper insights into how to implement these strategies.
Want more on the science of learning? Check out these powerful summaries:
• Make it Stick: Uncover learning strategies that align with how the brain works.
• Ultralearning: Go beyond the classroom. Learn 9 principles to master any skill in a fraction of the time!.
• A Mind for Numbers: Master the learning techniques to improve math, science or any area in life!
Who Should Read This Book
• Teachers, educators, and school leaders who want practical tools to run effective classrooms, improve student engagement, and results.
• Corporate trainers, coaches and facilitators who can apply the insights to adult learning/training.
• Parents or homeschoolers who want techniques and routines to improve learning at home.
Teach Like a Champion Chapters
See All Chapters (Click to expand)
Our summaries are reworded and reorganized for clarity and conciseness. Here’s the full chapter listing from Teach Like a Champion 3.0 by Doug Lemov, to give an overview of the original content structure in the book.
Chapter 1: Five Themes: Mental Models and Purposeful Execution
- Mental Models
- Principle 1: Understanding Human Cognitive Structure means Building Long-Term Memory and Managing Working Memory
- Principle 2: Habits Accelerate Learning
- Principle 3: What Students Attend to is What They Will Learn About
- Principle 4: Motivation is Social
- Principle 5: Teaching Well is Relationship Building
- Notes
Chapter 2: Lesson Preparation
- Technique 1: Exemplar Planning
- Technique 2: Plan For Error
- Technique 3: Delivery Moves
- Technique 4: Double Plan
- Technique 5: Knowledge Organizers
- Notes
Chapter 3: Check for Understanding
- Technique 6: Replace Self-Report
- Technique 7: Retrieval Practice
- Technique 8: Standardize the Format
- Technique 9: Active Observation (Activeobs)
- Technique 10: Show Me
- Technique 11: Affirmative Checking
- Technique 12: Culture of Error
- Technique 13: Show Call
- Technique 14: Own and Track
- Notes
Chapter 4: Academic Ethos
- Technique 15: No Opt Out
- Technique 16: Right is Right
- Technique 17: Stretch It
- Technique 18: Format Matters
- Technique 19: Without Apology
- Notes
Chapter 5: Lesson Structures
- Technique 20: Do Now
- Technique 21: Take The Steps 1 The Guidance Fading Effect Work Samples versus Rubrics
- Technique 22: Board = Paper
- Technique 23: Accountable Independent Reading
- Technique 24: Fase Reading Technique 25: Circulate
- Technique 26: Exit Ticket Stamp: Lord Of The Flies
- Notes
Chapter 6: Pacing
- Technique 27: Change the Pace
- Technique 28: Brighten the Lines
- Technique 29: All Hands
- Technique 30: Work the Clock
- Technique 31: Every Minute Matters
- Notes
Chapter 7: Building Ratio Through Questioning
- Technique 32: Phrasing Fundamentals
- Technique 33: Wait Time
- Technique 34: Cold Call
- Technique 35: Call and Response
- Technique 36: Means Of Participation
- Technique 37: Break It Down
- Notes
Chapter 8: Building Ratio Through Writing
- Technique 38: Everybody Writes
- Technique 39: Silent Solo
- Technique 40: Front The Writing
- Technique 41: Art of The Sentence
- Technique 42: Regular Revision
- Notes
Chapter 9: Building Ratio Through Discussion
- Technique 43: Turn And Talk
- Technique 44: Habits of Discussion
- Technique 45: Batch Process
- Technique 46: Disciplined Discussion
- Notes
Chapter 10: Procedures And Routines
- Technique 47: Threshold and Strong Start
- Technique 48: Habits of Attention
- Technique 49: Engineer Efficiency
- Technique 50: Routine Building
- Technique 51: Do It Again
- Notes
Chapter 11: High Behavioral Expectations
- Technique 52: What To Do
- Technique 53: Radar and Be Seen Looking
- Technique 54: Make Expectations Visible
- Technique 55: Least Invasive Intervention
- Technique 56: Firm, Calm Finesse
- Technique 57: Art of the Consequence
- Technique 58: Strong Voice
- Notes
Chapter 12: Building Student Motivation And Trust
- Technique 59: Positive Framing
- Technique 60: Precise Praise
- Technique 61: Warm/Strict
- Technique 62: Emotional Constancy
- Technique 63: Joy Factor
- Notes
About the Author of Teach Like a Champion
Teach Like a Champion 3.0: 63 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College was written by Doug Lemov. He is a managing director of Uncommon Schools and leads its Teach Like a Champion team. He was formerly the managing director for Uncommon’s upstate New York schools. Before that he was Vice President for Accountability at the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute and was a founder, teacher, and principal of the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School in Boston. Lemov has taught English and history at the university, high school, and middle school levels. He holds a BA from Hamilton College, an MA from Indiana University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Note: The first edition of this book started with 49 strategies, which were progressively expanded and refined into the 63 techniques in this edition.
Teach Like a Champion Quotes
“A prepared teacher is often a happy teacher and a poised teacher—one who can express herself more fully and who makes better decisions in the moment.”
“Better planning does not imply a loss of flexibility—the opposite, in fact.”
“Learning starts, most often, with perception.”
“Students who know their material are proud to know it and eager to use it.”
“Students look to their teachers as arbiters of quality.”
“In the classrooms with the highest academic expectations, right answers aren’t the end of the learning process; instead, they open the door to further challenge.”
“In the hands of a great teacher, the material students need to master is exciting, interesting, and inspiring.”
“Too much speed can be as problematic as not enough. The goal is balance.”
“Time…is a teacher’s most precious resource—it is to be husbanded, guarded, and conserved.”
Click here to download the Teach Like a Champion infographic & summary
