Lessons from the Classroom: 20 Things Good Teachers Do

by Hal Urban

A timeless treasury for teachers full of common sense, wisdom, and practical strategies.

A book that will:
Bring out the best in teachers at all levels.
Bring out the best in students of all ages.

If future teachers and those already in the classroom were to read one book to help them become the best teacher they could be, they could not do better than Lessons From the Classroom: 20 Things Good Teachers Do. There's wisdom, inspiration, and nuts-and-bolts guidance on every page.

This book reads like a love letter - from a teacher who loved his work and loved his students, and now wants to share everything he learned from a lifetime of honing his craft. It has more practical insights, inspiring stories, and tested strategies for bringing out the best in kids than one normally finds in ten books on education. It will be a classic.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Teaching

251 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Hal Urban holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in history, and a Doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco. He has also done post-graduate study in the psychology of peak performance at Stanford University.

For thirty-six years he was an award-winning teacher at San Carlos and Woodside High Schools and at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco.

Hal is the author of six books - all with an emphasis on good character. His first book, Life's Greatest Lessons, was selected by Writer's Digest as the Inspirational Book of the Year. For more information about his writings click on the Books page.

Since 1992 Dr. Urban has traveled more than two million miles while speaking nationally and internationally on positive character traits and their relationship to the quality of life. He has made more than a thousand presentations in forty-two states, Washington DC, and eight foreign countries. Additional information about his talks can be found on the Speaking page.

In 2005 Dr. Urban was awarded his highest honor - the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award at the Character Education Partnership National Forum.

Hal has a genuine love of life that includes several passions, chief among them are the three F's - faith, family, and friends. His other main interests and activities are physical fitness, reading, sports, travel, photography, and life-long learning.

Reviews

[Sean Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to become a better teacher, then you need to read this book. It give you great ideas that you can use in any classroom. This book is such a delight to read. If you love teaching then this book is for your.
Enjoy.

[Steve Tla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a moment and think about authors and teachers in your life who have made a difference. My colleague Matt Blazek compiled a book of projects that my students use. Dan Pink’s book “To Sell Is Human” moves my students to go beyond the elevator speech. Pink’s book Drive tells us that students can be motivated by autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Each of those works has techniques in the book that contribute to our teaching. Dennis Littky’s Big Picture: Education is Everyone’s Business has stories that move me away from lecturing toward projects and giving students choices.

BUT WHERE DO WE PUT THESE TIPS? What is the structure of OUR classroom? All of these techniques and philosophy of educating (“leading out”) have to fit in the walls of the classroom – - and that’s what Hal Urban gives us. Hal’s description of the positive mindset moves the reader to protect the atmosphere of the classroom. One negative thought can deflate the work of the day – and Hal has a technique to get that energy back in the room.

I’m looking for a job and I’m giving this review to the principals where I’m interviewing. “This is how I want to nurture a classroom. Will you support me?” (So I’m actually interviewing the principal).

You can look at Hal’s book as a list of techniques, but you would miss his key point: we have two missions as teachers. We deliver content and we nurture the development of character.

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“Look for the good instead of the bad, the right instead of the wrong, the beauty instead of the blight, the joy instead of the sorrow. Do this and you'll always have something good to say.”
That quote comes from one of Hal’s other books, but it captures the focus of his book: create a positive space in the school. One of the chapters is about collecting and using quotes – and I found over 100 quotes that I could use from three of Hal’s books.

One of the most important tips for me was “avoid the staff lounge.” I have not heard any gossip or trash talking or distracting conversations since I started taking my breaks and lunch in my classroom.

Look at that list of authors and teachers who have populated your heart and mind with the spirit of teaching that you bring into your classroom.
Now imagine reading that there was a car accident. Select a name on your list of favorite authors. That person is no longer available for a professional development class. That person will not read your review of his book.

Sit with your principal and get Hal Urban on the principal’s smartphone. Ask your principal to watch at least two minutes of “Hal Urban Character conference 2011 Lessons from Classroom” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJvbc...

You can find this video easily using the quicklink of tinyurl.com/HalUrbanYoutube (that video could be a session of professional development, or why not contact Hal at HalUrban.com?

Then write a review of each of the books that has made a difference in your teaching.

In other words, the key skills that I took away from Hal’s Lessons from the Classroom are GRATITUDE that a skilled and experienced teacher put his techniques on paper and AWARENESS of the limits of our time on the planet. Get this book, review the book, and at least show your principal the link to the “Character Conference Hal Urban Lessons from the Classroom” video. And I’m especially disappointed that only 12 people have reviewed Hal’s books. Come on, readers. Let’s type.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this one. The beginning, which discussed the importance of character education, felt encouraging. I thought, maybe this is what will help me get my classes back on track, back to a place where I enjoy the students more. But the later chapters seemed to fall into the trap that many teaching books (such as Teach Like a Pirate) do—the author’s personality is not necessarily the reader’s personality. A lot of the things in the last several chapters in the book just aren’t going to work for every teacher.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 Things Good Teachers Do was an engaging and meaningful read. It reminded me in many ways of Teach Like a Pirate, especially in how it emphasizes passion, creativity, and student-centered strategies. Many of the practices discussed are things I already implement in my own classroom, which was both validating and encouraging.

Overall, I found this book to be a valuable read, and I would recommend it to both first-year and veteran teachers.

[Jen Readeroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated Urban's thoughtful and practical approach to interacting with students. On my quest to be a master teacher, he has confirmed that I am on my way in some aspects.

[Melissa Jung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book a lot and have used some of the tools in it. Hope to keep in mind the positivity that it encourages next year.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best educational book yet. Ever teacher needs to read!

[Sherri Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good reminder that academics and values should both be addressed in the classroom.

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often find nonfiction and informational texts to be difficult to complete, but this book was the opposite. Hal Urban writes in a way that is easy to follow all while giving some great advice and tools that not only work for the classroom but for general self improvement. I plan on finding and reading his other books and plan to start implementing some of his “lessons” into the new school year.

[Becki]

Wonderful, wonderful book. Inspiring and practical, duplicable information.\nHal Urban was a classroom teacher (high school) for thirty-some-odd years. and he was an excellent teacher at that. This book � although I think I must have the updated version as my cover is definitely better looking � covers the 20 things good teachers do.\nI already greet my kids at the door every day. I might try to make it more formal next year. They couldn�t care less this year, it seems.\nI love the way he always established the atmosphere of his classroom before he ever got into the curriculum. If I had one thing to do over about this school year, it would be that. I would have spent more time on guidelines, procedures, and the classroom environment. His sign examples and toxic word pictures are great.\nI already plan to go through a unit on goal setting using his plan with my 7th and 8th graders. Although I think I�ll wait until December. It will be something good to do right before Christmas.\nI also will be implementing his �Good Kid� notices. I do try balancing my phone calls/emails home between the good and the bad. But I think just jotting a note on a postcard and popping it in the mail might help me be more proactive in recognizing and letting parents know of the good in their kid.\nDefinitely going to do the teacher performance review at the end of the year.\nWhere The First Days of School by the Wongs is great to set up your classroom, establish your guidelines, procedures, etc., Mr. Urban�s book covers some of the more intangible things that are still necessary for education and learning of the material to take place � effort, attitude, environment.\nA recommend it to any teacher�whether you�ve taught 20 years or just a year or two.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of my first year teacher professional development program. While we are required to teach our content there is so much more to being a great teacher and running a great classroom. This book taps into that and gives you practical strategies to teach kids other important life skills like personal responsibility, respect, etc. I think even a veteran teacher could take something from this text. After reading this book I am excited to try and apply some of these strategies next year in the classroom.

[Lin Lin]

Hal Urban will come to campus to speak about teaching this fall. I read his book this summer and felt refreshed by his ideas and "lessons from the classroom." The 20 things good teachers do are easy and practical. I think all teachers should read this book.

[Allison Junkans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great teaching book - very positive, full of great strategies. My principal lent me this book, but I think I may buy it b/c I think I will continue to use it.

[Matt Hooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource to have for teachers beginning their teaching career! I wish I had this book when I started 13 years ago. Impressive work here!