Think Like a Teacher
Teachers do more than explain things. They notice what a learner understands, choose a useful next move, check whether it helped, and adjust.
The Challenge
A younger student can read a paragraph aloud but cannot explain the main idea. Your job is to help them understand—without simply telling them the answer.
How a Teacher Thinks
- Notice: What can the learner already do?
- Diagnose: Where is understanding breaking down?
- Choose: What example, question, model, explanation, or practice might help?
- Explain: Make the idea clear without doing all the thinking for the learner.
- Check: How will I know whether they understand now?
- Adjust: If it did not work, what will I change?
- Encourage: Help the learner stay engaged and believe the next attempt is worth making.
Your Turn
Create a three-step mini-lesson for the student:
- One question that helps you find out what they already understand.
- One way you would model or explain main idea.
- One new paragraph or question they could try independently to show whether the learning transferred.
What Did You Notice?
How is helping someone learn different from giving them the answer? What would tell you that your explanation needs to change?
💡 Funky Tip
If the learner is still confused, repeating the exact same explanation louder is not a new strategy. Change the example, representation, question, pace, or amount of support.
Where Else Could You Use This Thinking?
Tutoring, coaching, helping a sibling, training someone at work, leading a team, explaining a game, teaching a skill, and any situation where another person is trying to learn.
I can change the world.
Helping someone understand something they could not understand before can change what becomes possible for them.
🎒 Take It With You
Notice → understand the learner → choose a move → teach → check → adjust → encourage.