The debriefing video gave me a really good idea on how observers are supposed to take notes and share them with colleagues. It was similar to what I understood about my lesson study directions for observers because each person focused on a certain group of students. When each person focuses on different students, it makes it more organized and gives more varied results. The debriefing video was different from what I understood about my lesson study directions for debriefers because I wasn't sure how the debriefing actually went about. I thought of it more as an open discussion rather than each person going around and sharing their findings. I suppose that after each person shares their findings, there would be more extended discussion about what ideas were brought up.
After reading the Whitenack article, I found that it is very important for the senior leading the math lesson to really focus on student mathematical discussion and reasoning. As the article states, "the classroom teacher must continuously monitor the discussion while giving students opportunities to develop ways to reason with others" (Whitenack, 2002). The senior leader needs to push students to come up with ways to get to the answer and ways to prove that answer is correct both independently and with other students. The students should feel like they are not just trying to get to the answer, but explore different mathematical options. As the observers, I feel that we need to watch for ways that students got to their answers. We need to make note about different methods that they used and different ways they explored the problem.
I think the most challenging part about the lesson plan study is implementing the lesson in a way that students really "dig in" to the math and provide results that are worth observing. I think any observations that we get will be worthwhile, but it's really important to know what you want to get out of it. I think it's challenging to try to plan for certain results, but you never know how it's going to go. I guess the uncertainty is the most difficult part of a lesson study.
I think the most beneficial aspect of lesson study for my learning as professional development besides putting it on my resume is getting the chance to actually observe a lesson and get to participate in a discussion afterward. In general, I think that talking with colleagues and exchanging ideas is helpful, but actually getting to debrief about a lesson plan get be really beneficial. Beyond just discussing with colleagues, I believe that getting practice observing mathematical reasoning between students is really helpful. You can get in the mind set of how you should be observing students in a classroom and how to lead a thoughtful, beneficial lesson discussion for students.
Response to Lesson Study Videos = Jamie Goetz
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah that the main goal of the lesson was to really distinguish between area and perimeter. Area and perimeter are often mixed up, and therefore I also believe this teacher was addressing this misconception and clarifying it while also broadening the children's view or area and perimeter past the algorithms and to an understanding of what these concepts actually are. The teacher then extended this lesson by having the children make another figure that was not a square, which had an area of 36 square units. This further strengthened the idea that the teacher was building off of the original misconception to really develop the idea of area being the surface space that is covered.
This was very similar to the way that I pictured the debriefing to go as well. Our group also was planning on having the different observers watching specific children and taking notes on their responses to the task and their progression in understanding the topic. I felt the attention to individual children was important, because it allowed the teacher to see an in depth view of the thought processes of the different children regarding the same information that was given to each child. Sometimes when teaching a lesson it can be easy to assume that all of the children are achieving the objective when you can only see glimpses of each child’s understanding. By giving this in depth view it is easier to see exactly where different children struggled and where further instruction is needed. I also believe that the discussion should extend beyond that on how to improve the lesson in the future and what else could have been done to cater to each individual student to improve the overall effectiveness of the lesson. In the debriefing the overall facts of the child’s responses were stated but I believe that a discussion on how to move forward or improve future lessons and this lesson would be beneficial.
As discussed in the Whitenak article it is important that the senior leader pushes the children to really delve into the mathematical concepts that are involved. This teacher really encouraged the children to do this by asking them to draw pictures; I believe that it is the responsibility of the senior leader to make the lesson more meaningful and connective.
I am easily intimidated in front of my peers; therefore I believe that the most challenging part of the lesson study is going to be actually teaching it knowing that there are four people taking down observations of the teaching the student’s responses to the lesson. This will intimidate me therefore it will be challenging for me to really center my thoughts and perform the lesson confidently.
I believe I learn some of the most valuable information through reflection and through listening to my peers, this lesson study project provides me with the opportunity to gain insight through both of these means. The lesson study itself provides us with the opportunity to learn an effective means by which to communicate with a group of colleagues to improve teaching practices to benefit children more. This idea is really a great technique that would be interesting to use in any classroom or school community, and through learning and doing this method we will have the skills necessary to use it in our future schools.
I agree with both Jamie and Hannah about how the importance of distinguishing between area and perimeter is what this lesson is all about. I like the extensions the teacher used. Debriefing is the part of this project that I think will be the most useful. In my student teaching at the preschool we do a pre-session and post-session every day which allows for some serious self-reflection and peers support. I am excited to do this with my group because I have never had an experience like this with elementary aged experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think this lesson study will be a good experience for us because I have learned so much about how to be a better teacher, what my strengths and weaknesses are, and just all of the different things I miss throughout the day that children do that I might not have seen or heard about otherwise. It is a really good way to discuss goals for children, strategies for teaching, and give good feedback to one another. I do agree with Jamie that it will be a bit intimidating teaching in front of my peers but I think that it will be a good experience for me and I will benefit from this experience and grow as a teacher.