Today was the big day! After a few days of experiencing various aspects of the Japanese school system, we had the opportunity to teach a lesson with the students at Tokorozawa Namiki Elementary School. Before our lessons, we toured the school and watched/analyzed a geometry lesson in a fourth grade class. The tour of the school showcased the pride and care that the students and staff take with their school. There was a strong supportive and nurturing school climate that, even as guests, we could perceived. The teachers welcomed us into their classrooms and we observed how lessons were conducted.
Our lessons with the students were a huge success! We gained first hand experience working with Japanese elementary students and I loved every moment of my lesson. The students were eager to participate and treated their peers with respect and support. After our lesson, we had lunch with the students in their classroom. I was shocked (in a very good way) to see the students help each other by serving the food and leading a word of thanks before and after eating. The teacher had a passive role and allowed the students to facilitate their lunch and clean up. This is drastically different than American school practices. I would love to find a way to foster this sense of care and love for one another and the school environment that I witnessed at Tokorozawa Namiki Elementary School in my future classroom.
Another significant take away from the day was the Japanese Lesson Study of the geometry lesson we had observed earlier. Together with the Wasada University students, we gathered our notes and collaborated our noticings with one another. We created a chart to represent our thoughts and discovered connections between related themes. From this collaboration, we created a consensus of our findings and presented these findings to our American and Japanese peers. This was a valuable experience for all. Through the Japanese Lesson Study, we each reflected on our own observations and heard our peers' perspectives. It was a powerful experience to create a web of communal thoughts that brought to life the essence of both teaching practices and true collaboration. I am looking forward to implementing this deep form of reflection and collaboration in my teaching practices.
Students engaging in a geometry lesson, part of a larger study of ours on Japanese Lesson Study and Inquiry Based Learning:
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