Lesson+Study

To help facilitate curriculum and lesson design, teachers will begin using the concept of Lesson Study which was developed by the Japanese. The concept of lesson study is to collaboratively develop an instructional lesson and then one teacher will teach the lesson as the other collaborators assess how effective the lesson is with the students. Lesson Study is focused on lesson design for optimal student growth. Teachers will use lesson study groups to develop lessons, observe the lessons and then critique them throughout the school year.

"Japanese teachers say that the most powerful part of lesson study is that you develop the eyes to see children." --Catherine Lewis, Mills College

"Lesson study takes us beyond examining student work to students working." --Patsy Wang-Iverson, Research for Better Schools

"Lesson study is a very powerful way to bring teachers together to structure and organize their thinking about classroom practices. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that lesson study in and of itself is an empty shell that will be filled according to the knowledge and skills brought to bear by the group of teachers conducting this activity." --Clea Fernandez, Promising Practices for Improving Instruction