Common practices, techniques, strategies and wisdom of extraordinary teachers are revealed, discussed and summarized in their own words. The complete interviews of ten highly effective teachers are included along with chapters summarizing common themes. In it, these selected teachers discuss how they plan lessons, organize their classrooms, assess for mastery, manage student behavior, facilitate student-centered classrooms, guide students towards high order questioning / thinking and more. "In a way, reading "Defining Teaching Excellence" is like learning about a group of Olympic gold medalists. It's intriguing to read about how people who are the absolute best at what they do actually think and work. With it's inspiring insights and practical ideas, this book has the potential to be immensely helpful to both novice and experienced teachers. It's possible it will also give parents of students a new appreciation for what these professionals make happen each day in their children's classrooms." - Donna Price, Lake Charles American Press