Doug Lemov's field notes

Reflections on teaching, literacy, coaching, and practice.

10.19.16 The Secret Power of Gratitude–The Michaela Files, Part 2

Michaela was an orderly place- strikingly orderly, even by my standards and that’s probably saying something. But it was also a happy place, to a degree that was a tiny bit surprising even to someone like me who came in believing that students are happier in an orderly school.  Smiles were everywhere. Could have been the…


10.14.16 Reducing Teacher Workload By Re-Thinking Marking–The Michaela Files, Part 1

Last week i visited London’s faintly notorious Michaela School. A few days ago I wrote an overview framing the visit in the ‘big picture’ sense.  Now I propose to begin sharing a series of posts–the Michaela Files–describing some of the useful things I learned there. As I walked through London’s Michaela School I was struck suddenly…


10.12.16 On Visiting–and Judging–London’s Michaela School

I spent last week in the UK, presenting a workshop and, on Wednesday, visiting the very successful and faintly notorious Michaela School in London. I learned a lot there and have found myself reflecting on a few ideas in particular in the days since- ideas that have the potential make schools– in the UK, the US…