Teach Like a Champion

Teach like a Champion: Technique 1

No Opt Out

I love the No Opt Out technique Doug Lemov shares in his book, Teach Like a Champion.  The key idea is this; when a student is unable or unwilling to answer a question move on to someone else. Once the student has heard the correct answer repeat the question and have the student give the answer.  Lemov believes that using this technique will allow the reluctant students to recognize that “I don’t know” is the Rosetta Stone of work avoidance. 

There are four formats of the No Opt Out strategy:

1.       You provide the answer; the student repeats the answer.

2.       Another student provides the answer; the initial student repeats the answer.

3.       You provide a hint: the student uses it to find and answer.

4.       Another student provides a hint; the initial student uses it to find an answer.

One final thought by Lemov, “No matter what balance you strike, students in your classroom should come to expect that when they can’t answer or when they answer incorrectly, there is a strong likelihood that they will conclude their interaction by demonstrating their responsibility and ability to identify the right answer.”