I follow Doug Lemov on a few social media platforms. As the author of Teach Like a Champion, Lemov is both respected and disdained in the education world. Teach Like a Champion focuses on the science of teaching, leaving out much of the art of teaching to the disappointment of some. I, however, enjoyed his book for its actionable advice. Another issue some have with Lemov is his support of charter schools, but that’s for another blogpost.
Recently, Lemov posted On Thinking and Learning. It’s not very long and I encourage you to read it. The post struck me for a few reasons:
It differentiates between thinking and learning,
It reminds the reader of the benefit of background knowledge and…
It illustrates the importance of retrieval techniques with a relatable example.
The example mentioned in the last bullet point really resonated with me. Lemov explains that although he has read many books, he cannot remember much of them. This is true in my own life and I suspect in the lives of many. I find myself scanning my bookshelves and knowing I have read many of the books I see, but often unsure of even their most basic ideas. Lemov goes on to explain that he now keeps a journal of book quotations for later review. Although I do not keep a journal, I mark up the books I read, underlining and starring key ideas or striking sentences. One of these days, I will help myself learn what I once read and thought about by going back and rereading those highlights.