What Great Teachers Do Differently

Todd Whitaker (@toddwhitaker) is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written more than 50 books including the bestseller What Great Principals Do Differently. He is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri.

"The book is full of salient reminders for all teachers, regardless of the number of years spent in the profession. … Whitaker deserves commendation for his ability to weave his professional knowledge and personal experiences together to create an individualized book full of opportunities for reflective thinking about things that matter most."--S. Mia Obiwo and Diane Truscott, Teachers College Record, February 16, 2021, https://www.tcrecord.org "What Great Teachers Do Differently will challenge your thinking; give you the impetus to become an even better teacher; might reaffirm your teaching philosophy and methodology; inspire you. Most of all, it will remind you that “Every teacher makes an impact. Great teachers make a difference.” (p.126) Be that teacher!"--Linda Biondi, MiddleWeb Review, February 18, 2021, https://www.middleweb.com/44638/nineteen-things-great-teachers-do-differently

• AcknowledgmentsMeet the AuthorIntroductionChapter 1 Why Look at Great?Studying Effective TeachersChapter 2 It’s People, Not ProgramsPrograms Come and GoHow Open Classrooms Got StartedAssertive Discipline: The Problem or the Solution?It’s Not What You Do, It’s How You Do ItThe Poor Lecturer’s ClassroomChapter 3 The Power of ExpectationsExpectationsRulesStop the Thumping!ConsequencesSet Expectations at the Start of the YearWe Are Still UndefeatedChapter 4 If You Say Something, Mean ItThe Football CoachThis Time, I Really Mean ItSmile When You Say ThatWhen You Are ReadyFrom Four to ThreeClass Rules the DayChapter 5 Prevention versus RevengeWhen a Student MisbehavesSending Students to the Office"Nuthin’ Happened"A Teacher’s Bag of TricksRespect Your Students, Their Parents—and Yourself Twenty-Four Students on the Side of the TeacherRestoring TrustChapter 6 It Is More Than RelationshipsRelationships, Expectations, and ConsistencyThe Start of the School YearTeaching Is ComplicatedIt Takes All ThreeChapter 7 Choose The Right ModeThe DisruptorAt HomeEvery DayBusiness ModeOffice ReferralChapter 8 High Expectations—for Whom?Are High Expectations Important?Chapter 9 Who Is the Variable?Who Is the Variable in the Classroom?What If the Students Do Poorly?How Do We Deal with the Demands of Others?Chapter 10 Focus on Students FirstChange for Students’ Sake?How Broad Is Your Vision?Three Ways to ReactFocus on Colleagues SecondThe Hotel CaliforniaRemember What MattersHow Do You View Your Siam?Chapter 11 Ten Days Out of TenWe Never Forget That One TimeYou Do Not Have to Like the StudentsThe Power of PraiseFive Strategies That Help Praise WorkToo Much NiceChapter 12 Be the FilterHow Is Your Day Going?The Angry ParentFilter YourselfWhen the Teacher SneezesOne Goal, Every DayWhere the Elite Meet?The World Outside School"This Is the Worst Group of Kids We’ve Ever Had"Perception Can Become RealityChapter 13 Don’t Need to Repair—Always Do RepairSome Never Need to Repair—But Always DoSome Always Need to Repair—But Never DoI Am Sorry That HappenedThe Highway PatrolChapter 14 The Ability to IgnoreHey, Pretzel Face! Ignore Minor ErrorsUnderstand the High AchieversChapter 15 IntentionalnessWhy Does Stefan Always Pick Noah?The All-School AssemblyThe Faculty MeetingFlexible SeatingChapter 16 Base Every Decision on the Best PeopleShoplifters Will Be Prosecuted!This Means You!What Will the Best Students Think?The Best Students Will Be "Fine" No Matter WhatThe Teacher’s PetChapter 17 In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least ComfortableTreat Everyone as If They Were GoodUncomfortable Feelings Make People Change—One Way or AnotherPay for PerformanceChapter 18 Put Yourself in Their PositionTeacher PleasersModel the Behavior You ExpectHow Others See UsWhat Do You Choose to Be?Chapter 19 What About These Darn Standardized Tests?Without Success, Tests Become the SchoolRaise Those Test Scores!Keep Testing in PerspectiveSo, You Want to Improve Your Reading Scores?Chapter 20 Make It Cool to CareHaving a "Cool" ClassroomThe Great TeacherMerry Christmas, Everyone!Who Are the Legends?Touch the Heart, Then Teach the ChildChapter 21 Clarify Your CoreNineteen Things That Matter MostReferences