LESSON STUDY .

What is Lesson Study? Lesson study is a professional development process that Japanese teachers engage in to systematically examine their practice. The goal of lesson study is to improve the effectiveness of the experiences that the teachers provide to their students.

A Focus on the Examination of Lessons The core activity in lesson study is for teachers to collaboratively work on a small number of “study lessons”. These lessons are called “study” lessons because they are used to examine the effect of the teachers’ practice on the students’ learning.

Working on a Study Lesson: Research and preparation: The teachers jointly draw up a detailed plan for the study lesson. Implementation: A teacher teaches the study lesson in a real classroom while other group members look on. Reflection and improvement: The group comes together to discuss their observations of the lesson. Second implementation and reflection: (optional but recommended) Another teacher teaches the study lesson in a second classroom while group members look on; this is followed by the group coming together again to discuss the observed instruction.

Working on a Study Lesson: (Research & Preparation) (Implementation) (Reflection & Improvement) (Reflection & Filing of Records) Group Meetings Study Lesson (1) Study Lesson (2) (Optional)

1. Planning a Study Lesson

2a. Implementing the Study Lesson For the second step, one of the first grade teachers taught the lesson that was developed during the previous meetings, to her students.

2b. Observing the Study Lesson During the lesson, all the teachers from the school observed the lesson. In this slide, you can see three teachers taking notes during the lesson. Other teachers were standing in the back of the classroom.

3. Reflecting on the Study Lesson For step three, the teachers in the Lower Grade Level Group met again and talked about the lesson. Actually the teachers held two meetings to reflect on and improve the lesson.

Re-Implementing the Study Lesson For step four, another first grade teacher from the group taught the improved version of the lesson to her class. This time, not only all the teachers from the school observed the lesson, but an outside school advisor also observed the lesson.

Reflecting on the Study Lesson For the last step of the Lesson Study, an All Staff Meeting was held at the Staff Room to discuss the lesson. The Staff Room is the room where all teachers have their own desks.

Lesson Study is a Goal-Driven Activity Teachers select an overarching goal to guide their work on all the study lessons. A school generally works on the same general goal and same content area for 3-4 years. Every year the overarching lesson study goal is refined as the group’s understanding of this goal evolves as a result of doing lesson study. For each study lesson, the teachers also select lesson-specific goals.

The Process for Setting Levels of Goals in Lesson Study Step 1: The teachers select an general lesson study goal. Step 2: The teachers identify content-specific goals to focus on in the study lesson. Step 3: The teachers think about the relationship between the study lesson’s content-specific goals and the lesson study lesson study goal. Step 4: The teachers identify areas to focus on for the content-specific goals.

Examples of the Levels of Lesson Study Goals Step 1 (general lesson study goal): “To become successful in academic writing .” Step 2 (content-specific goal): “To write a good response paragraph” Step 3 (identifying content-specific areas to focus on): “Paraphrasing.” Or… Step 1 (general lesson study goal): “To become successful in academic reading .” Step 2 (content-specific goal): “To understand the main idea” Step 3 (identifying content-specific areas to focus on): “Skimming.”

How Do Lesson Study Groups Share Their Work and Exchange Ideas? Share and discuss over recorded lessons Reports & Publications

Research Report Booklet Many schools produce a booklet, often called “Summary of Lesson Study” at the end of school year. It usually includes all the lesson plans developed through the year and comments and reflections. This picture shows the booklets that were produced by Tsuta Elementary School which were provided to all the participants of the Open House Study Lesson.

Publications by Teachers Education Section at Japanese Bookstore:

Lesson Study is Conducted in Many Forms In-school Whole group Content area study groups Across schools Regionally organized Voluntarily organized clubs and circles Organized by educational associations and institutions Part of mandated beginning teacher education*

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