What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most by Todd Whitaker

In the second edition of 'What Great Teachers Do Differently,' Todd Whitaker shares invaluable insights and heartfelt advice from one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation and teacher leadership. This book is filled with pearls of wisdom, humor, and practical strategies that will motivate and inspire educators to be their best each day. The book includes new features such as 'Meaning what you say' and 'Focusing on students first,' emphasizing the beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that set great teachers apart. Additionally, the DVD bundle offers two hours of Todd Whitaker speaking about these principles, making it a perfect resource for teacher training and professional development.

Reviews

Medium · Peter W. Stanton · 2025-10-21

insightful 3.50

The book emphasizes the importance of teachers being positive but not overly so. It highlights key messages about effective teaching practices.

Peter W. Stanton's review highlights that while the book contains 17 key points, the most essential message is that teachers should strive to be positive but not to the point of negativity. He appreciates the book's focus on the attitudes and behaviors of great teachers, but he also notes that the advice is not always easy to implement. Stanton finds the book's insights valuable, particularly for teachers who are looking to improve their classroom management and student interactions. However, he suggests that the book could benefit from more concrete examples and practical strategies.

Quick quotes

Although Whitaker's book contains “17 things,” I would summarize his most essential messages as being that teachers should strive to be positive but not to the point of negativity.

The book's focus on the attitudes and behaviors of great teachers is valuable, but the advice is not always easy to implement.

The insights are particularly valuable for teachers looking to improve their classroom management and student interactions.

The Storygraph · 2025-10-21

useful 3.00

The book is useful but not ideal for newer teachers. The advice is practical but overly generalized. The insights are valuable for experienced educators.

This book is packed with practical advice and insights that can help teachers improve their craft. However, the advice is quite generalized and may not be as helpful for newer teachers who need more specific guidance. The author's focus on the attitudes and behaviors of great teachers is valuable, but the lack of detailed examples can make it difficult for some readers to apply the advice directly to their own teaching practices. Overall, it's a useful read for experienced educators looking to reflect on their own practices and make incremental improvements.

Quick quotes

While I enjoyed this book and thought that the information was useful, I would not recommend it to a newer teacher.

The author makes a lot of generalized statements that, while insightful, lack the specificity needed for practical application.

The insights are valuable for experienced educators who can reflect on their own practices and make incremental improvements.

SoBrief · 2025-02-04

comprehensive 4.00

The book focuses on the behaviors and attitudes that distinguish great teachers. It provides a comprehensive look at what makes teaching effective.

SoBrief's review emphasizes that the book does an excellent job of exploring the behaviors and attitudes that set great teachers apart from their less effective peers. The author's wit and understanding make the book an engaging read, and the insights provided are both practical and valuable. The review notes that the book is particularly useful for teachers who are looking to reflect on their own practices and make meaningful improvements. However, it also suggests that the book could be more beneficial if it included more specific examples and case studies to illustrate the points made.

Quick quotes

Focus on Effective Teaching: The book explores the behaviors and attitudes that distinguish great teachers from their less effective peers.

With wit and understanding, Todd Whitaker describes the beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions of great teachers and explains what they do differently.

The insights provided are both practical and valuable, making it a useful read for teachers looking to reflect on their own practices and make meaningful improvements.

Appears in Lists

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