What Great Teachers Do differently - Todd Whitaker

 This book gives 19 things that matter most. Todd  is a leading presenter in education and the author of over 50 books including a bestseller called 'What Great Principals Do'. He is a Professor of Education Leadership in the University of Missouri. 

The key ideas that he shares are -
- People matter more than programs (keep the student in mind)
- Set clear expectations and follow up - when you say something mean it
- Correct behaviors so they are not repeated
- set high expectations from students and teachers
- Its about results and work so do not get caught in building relationships -be clear about your purpose
- Stay in business mode (transactional analysis) - not child or parent
- Always look to improve
- Keep the student first
- Create a positive atmosphere in classrooms and schools
- Use the power of praise
- Filter out the negatives and share a positive attitude
- Keep good relations
- Ignore trivial disturbances and respond to inappropriate behaviors without escalating
- Plan and purpose - reflect on what they could have done differently - think of what the best people will think in  given situation
- Think of what is most comfortable and what is least comfortable with each decision
- Have empathy for students
- Keep standardised testing procedures in perspective and be clear that the real issue is of learning
- Care about your students, make it cool to care
- Understand that their behaviours and beliefs are tied to emotions, understand the power of emotions to jump start change
-  Clarify your core
- Focus on what is right for the students

 Todd makes it clear that the purpose of teaching is to impart learning to the students and that it is the teachers job to find ways to do that. Not all students are the same nor do they learn at the same pace or the same way so the teacher must understand how to deliver to each student, be patient. The only way to get the approach right is to genuinely care for each student and find the right key for each. To do that one must understand behaviors (how to encourage good behaviors and limit poor behaviors), emotions (using them to change), human psychology (what motivates students and what discourages them), process (of planning, preparing, delivering, testing, feedback, improving). If one follows what Todd says one will understand teaching from a deeper perspective of imparting learning and making better people or rather allowing students to find and fulfill their potential. In the process the teachers fulfill their own potential.

I felt that the book could have been structured better (purpose, approach, behaviors, stick and carrot etc) so a new teacher could follow the path of 'why' (purpose), 'how (values, processes), and 'what' (goals). I also felt the examples could have been presented better. There is so much good content but its a little all over the place for me and I have to put it together which the book should have done. That said, maybe I am looking at it from my way, and another reader might like the way it is presented. Despite it all the core ideas are very good and solid - that we must care for the student and be committed to their growth and any failure to do that is our own failure as teachers.