About the Lesson Study Institute

The Asia-Pacific Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative and the Chicago Lesson Study Group invite you to the third Lesson Study Summer Institute (LSSI 2009), August 10-14. The institute will provide teachers and other educators an immersion in lesson study, including an opportunity to observe and discuss a research lesson and guidance through the process of developing a research lesson with their colleagues. During the 2009-2010 school year participants will teach, revise, and re-teach their lesson with guidance from the Chicago Lesson Study Group. In May 2010, the teams will be invited to present at the annual Chicago Lesson Study Conference. This experience will prepare participants to become independent practitioners of lesson study.

Registration and Cost

Any teacher or educator who is willing to learn lesson study is welcome. Although teams of three to six from the same school are encouraged, cross-school teams or individual educators may apply. Tuition for the institute is $675 per participant, which covers resources and materials, breakfast, refreshments, and lunch each day.

Registration process

1. Download a letter of intent and submit to Tom McDougal, TFMcDougal@LessonStudyGroup.net by May 31st.
2. Upon receipt of an invitation, complete online registration by June 30th.

Due to the nature of the institute,

• the total number of the participants will be limited to ten teams, and
• full attendance is required. Your participation is vital to your team.

Special Offer for Chicago Public School teachers

A limited number of grants may be available to subsidize teams of teachers from Chicago Public Schools.
Please contact Desireé Roman, DRoman1@depaul.edu for details.

35 CPDUs will be available to Illinois teachers

Facilitators

• Akihiko Takahashi, Asia-Pacific Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative
• Tom McDougal, Asia-Pacific Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative
• Steven Rogg, Asia-Pacific Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative

Tentative Agenda

• Monday, August 10
  • Introduction to lesson study
  • Improving the teaching and learning of mathematics and science
  • Identifying a school theme for lesson study
• Tuesday, August 11
  • Kyozai kenkyu: the study of materials for teaching
  • Lesson planning
• Wednesday, August 12
  • The observer’s role during a research lesson
  • Lesson planning
• Thursday, August 13
  • What does it mean to teach through problem-solving
  • Designing the flow of a lesson
  • Lesson planning
• Friday, August 14
  • Lesson plan presentations and discussion
  • Finalizing lesson plans
  • Planning for research lessons during the school year

The Chicago Lesson Study Group

The Chicago Lesson Study Group was launched in November 2002 with several volunteer teachers in the Chicago area. This informal study group meets regularly to discuss issues in mathematics teaching and learning and to develop research lesson plans. As part of its lesson study conference, the Chicago Lesson Study Group has conducted thirteen public research lessons in the past five years. The conferences have drawn educators from around the world to discuss how to implement student-centered instruction in mathematics. One hundred fifty participants from various states, Canada, and England attended the lesson study conference in May 2008.

What is Lesson Study?

Lesson study, the primary form of professional development in Japan, is the critical systemic feature that enables Japanese elementary teachers to improve classroom instruction. In lesson study, teachers work collaboratively to: 1) formulate long-term goals for student learning and development; 2) plan, conduct, and observe a research lesson designed to bring these long-term goals to life as well as to teach a particular academic topic; 3) carefully observe student learning, engagement, and behavior during the lesson; and 4) discuss and revise the lesson and the approach to instruction based on these observations. The process gives teachers opportunities to reflect on their teaching and student learning. Lesson study has become increasingly visible in the United States through state, national, and international conferences, open houses, high-profile policy reports, and special journal issues, and a growing number of school districts in the United States are adopting lesson study as their primary form of professional development.