Happy New Year! 

I hope this new year finds you rejuvenated and refreshed. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to
go see author and speaker Todd Whitaker. Mr. Whittaker wrote a book called What Great Teachers Do
Differently, 17 things that matter most.  If you haven't read the book I encourage you to pick up a copy.
It's a short inspirational read. Below are the 17 things Mr. Whittaker mentions that matter the most.
I thought it would be a great reminder as we kick off the year 2020.

1. Great teachers never forget that it is people, not programs, that determine the quality of a school. 

2. Great teachers establish clear expectations at the start of the year and follow them consistently as
the year progresses.

 3. Great teachers manage their classrooms thoughtfully. When they say something, they mean it. 

4. When a student misbehaves, great teachers have one goal: to keep that behavior from happening
again. 

5. Great teachers have high expectations for students, but have even higher expectations for
themselves.

 6. Great teachers know that they are the variable in the classroom. Good teachers consistently strive
to
improve, and they focus on something they can control: their own performance.

 7. Great teachers focus on students first, with a broad vision that keeps everything in perspective. 

8. Great teachers create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools. They treat every
person
with respect. In particular, they understand the power of praise.

 9. Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don’t matter and share a positive attitude. 

10.Great teachers work hard to keep their relationships in good repair to avoid personal hurt and to
repair
any possible damage. 

11.Great teachers have the ability to ignore trivial disturbances and the ability to respond to
inappropriate
behavior without escalating the situation.

 12.Great teachers have a plan and purpose for everything they do. If plans don’t work out the way
they
had envisioned, they reflect on what they could have done differently and adjust accordingly. 

13.Before making any decision or attempting to bring about any change, great teachers ask
themselves one central question: What will the best people think? 

14.Great teachers continually ask themselves who is most comfortable and who is least comfortable
with each decision they make. They treat everyone as if they were good. 

15.Great teachers have empathy for students and clarity about how others see them.

 16.Great teachers keep standardized testing in perspective. They focus on the real issue of student
learning.

17.Great teachers care about their students. They understand that behaviors and beliefs are tied to

emotion, and they understand the power of emotion to jumpstart change.

Let's Rock 2020!!! - Mr. Briske