The Lesson Study Research Group might be a place to begin your research. http://www.tc.columbia.edu/lessonstudy/
I also recommend reading The Teaching Gap by Stigler and Heibert. If you think it is something you are interested in trying with colleagues--you will need a great deal of time and best to have strong administrator support. I would also recommend contat with a lesson study expert. I believe Catherine Mills (you will find articles by her on that website) has some great materials to help groups get started. Have fun--it is a fascinating process to learn about. Let me know as you go if you have any questions that I might help answer! :)Bonita ---- Heather Wall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Bonita, > > HOw did you learn about Japanese Lesson Study? Is there a website? book? > conference? > > Heather Wall/ 3rd grade/ Georgia > NBCT 2005 > Literacy: Reading - Language Arts > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Bonita DeAmicis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 2:22:21 PM > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Complacency vs. Implementing What I've Le arned > > > This is an interesting thread to me as it relates to what I have learned from > Japanese lesson study. When I first started learning about Japanese Lesson > Study (a form of professional development used in Japan where teachers write > and test lessons together), I was concerned about the idea that a single > lesson was developed for all teachers to learn. It seemed awfully rote to > me, like teaching from a text can be. As I studied the lesson study process > more deeply, I began to understand that though these teachers were developing > and using the same lesson, through the "study" of the lesson they gained > much, much more. What I watched and examined were lesson study datum from > math and science lesson study groups--but I think much applies to all > teaching. What I see now (and I may see more later) is that the Japanese > teachers gained the following from their lesson-studies: > 1. A in-depth understanding of the content they were teaching (working > together to examine a lesson caused them to examine the subject being taught > at a very deep level. They came to "know" the topic at a multitude of > levels--really understanding the math concept from many perspectives > including where the topic came from and where it was going.) > 2. A deep, deep knowledge of what might happen inside the minds of different > types of students during the particular lesson, and how they could address > the many different students' minds through their own responses and questions > as teachers. > 3. A thorough ability to move seamlessly from lesson format to addressing > real learning throughout the given lesson. > > Although I had initially imagined teachers teaching a lesson lock-step, what > I actually saw was the nuances that occur when teachers truly take full > professional responsibility for what they teach. In lesson study teachers do > work from a type of script (not word for word--although often "best words" > are included). If teachers do not understand the original lesson design, the > changes wrought by the lesson study, the student learning that can occur, and > the teacher change gained by participation in the study, they will not be > very successful in their lesson delivery. it is really all about teacher > knowledge of both content and pedagogy, not just lock-step script. > > The reason lesson study relates to this thread about complacency is that I > believe the more honed a teacher is to the learning goals, the content, and > the student differences, the less offensive it is to "have" a script because > a teacher who is versed and professionally-oriented will adjust and emphasize > and change pace and cut out things and do whatever else is needed to make the > learning real for the students. New teachers can benefit from the text > script, but I would advise them to (immediately) begin to reflect on the > lessons (right into the margins of the textbook if it helps) so that they are > never teaching a scripted program in a complacent manner. That is anethema to > learning, I think. > > Lest you all imagine I support texts, let me add that I find US texts in all > subject matter to be far too lengthy, too all-encompassing, and too droll to > offer the best in instruction. Though it really is nice to have all the stuff > premade. But I do believe new teachers and teachers required to use such > programs can make smart adjustments based upon professional judgment and > reflection. Their lack of complacency will make a great difference in > instruction. > > :)Bonita DeAmicis > California, Gr.5 > > > However, saying that, each teacher approaches the > > curriculum in a different way and that's how you can > > make these programs your own. It's still possible to > > integrate what you've learned into these programs. > > It's up to you to make sure that you reach all of your > > students > > and convince the powers that be that you're doing what > > best for your students. > > ************************ > > Felicia, > > > > I think you make some excellent points. Programs have > > some very useful components, and when used > > thoughtfully, can be wonderful resources. > Lisa > > 2/3 IL > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
