Union High School Mathematics Teachers Engage in a Japanese Lesson Study
Andrew Paulson, doctoral student in the math department at Vanderbilt University, recently conducted a lesson study with several Algebra II and Geometry teachers at Union High School.
Lesson studies, which are commonplace in Japanese schools, require teachers to collaboratively plan, observe, and debrief a single class lesson. In a lesson study, teachers carefully explore how student learning, thinking, and behavior change as a result of the lesson.
Cheryl Fiske and Ana Lytle, Union High School Algebra II and Geometry teachers, respectively, hosted the lesson study in their classrooms. During the planning phase, teachers unpacked the lesson’s standards and decided upon the lesson’s target, researched various pedagogical methods, like using literacy strategies in mathematics class, and discussed Smith and Stein’s (2018) “5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussion.” They further anticipated student responses, both correct and incorrect, and brainstormed how they might respond to each of the answer paths.
While observing Ms. Fiske and Mr. Paulson during their lesson, the observing teachers took detailed notes on student responses, looking for evidence of understanding or confusion within the lesson. They continued with follow-up discussions that were grounded in student work, research, and focused on student learning.
“I am proud of Mr. Daly, Mr. Brezanskis, Ms. Fiske, Ms. Lytle, Ms. White, Mr. Sukovich, Mr. Munoz, and Mr. Kreder (participating teachers). I appreciate their openness to learning and the honest effort with which they engaged in the work. The lesson study process is a wonderful professional development model to introduce teachers to the power of collaborative inquiry. Further, it demonstrates that deliberate planning and reflection helps teachers develop increasingly nuanced understandings of their daily choices and, most importantly, how these choices inhibit or enhance student learning,” said Math Supervisor Dr. Jeremy Cohen.
Photos by Township of Union Public Schools
Submitted by Akua Boakye
