Task Set 2: Lesson Study
During one of your school visits- and with your mentor teacher’s permissionconduct focused observation and lesson study of one lesson during one of your
schools visits in September. The focus of the observation and subsequent study is
to consider students’ curricular accessibility needs* and how they are being met
in the classroom community.
* During the lesson study, your primary focus is on the students and how they are
engaging in the learning experience. You are not critiquing your mentor teacher.
Procedure:
1. During one of your school visits, observe a lesson and record your observations using
a running record. A running record is simply creating moment-by-moment notes
about what is happening during the lesson. Use some loose leaf paper or a journal
page for your notes.
2. After your school visit, summarize your notes in the modified lesson plan template
provided. Sort & classify your observations into ‘logistical considerations’, ‘teacher is
doing’, ‘students are doing’, and evidence of student learning. Add relevant details
wherever possible.
3. Complete a post-lesson reflection with a particular focus on the UDL questions.
Consider the obstacles and opportunities for student engagement (both individual
students and collectively as a class) by thinking about…
 How the learning experience tapped into student interest, offered
appropriate challenges and increased motivation- and what other means of
engagement might considered in future lessons to achieve this
 How the learning experience helped students interact with the ideas- and
what other means of representation might be considered in future learning
experiences
 How the learning experience provided learners with alternatives for
demonstrating what they know- and what other means of expression might
be considered in the future.
4. Reflect on student learning and consider student progress in relation to the intended
learning.
5. Think about next priorities for the students. Record some of your initial ideas.
6. Think about how the insights you’ve gleaned from this lesson study might inform
your practice if you were to teach a lesson to this class tomorrow.
Lesson Plan Template- adapted from: Brownlie, F, Feniak, C, & Schnellert, L. (2006). Student Diversity: Classroom challenges to meet
the needs of all learners (2nd ed.). Markham: Pembroke Publishers.
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LESSON PLAN
Lesson Date:
Clarifying the Learning Focus
Time:
What is the focus of this learning experience?
Big Idea for
this lesson
Why/How is this relevant for these students?
Lesson Structure & Development:
Teaching & Learning Tasks
UDL Q’s
Focus
How can I tap
into my
students’
interests, offer
appropriate
challenges,
increase
motivation?
CONNECTING
Engage/Focus/
Predict,
Activate prior
knowledge
How will I help
students
interact with
ideas they
encounter?
PROCESSING
Construct
meaning,
monitor
understanding,
process ideas
How can I
provide
learners with
alternatives
for
demonstratin
g what they
know?
TRANSFORM &
PERSONALIZE
Apply
knowledge,
reflect on
thinking and
learning
Time
(min)
Logistics considerations:
Set up/entry/exit/flexible
grouping/ Key Q’s
Key instr./ transitions
Teacher is doing…
Students are doing…
Evidence of Student Learning:
Assessment strategies, key criteria etc…
Lesson Plan Template- adapted from: Brownlie, F, Feniak, C, & Schnellert, L. (2006). Student Diversity: Classroom challenges to meet the needs of all learners (2nd ed.). Markham: Pembroke
Publishers.
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LESSON PLAN, cont’d
Post-lesson Analysis & Reflection
How did the learning experience
… tap into
students’ interests,
offer appropriate
challenges,
increase
motivation?
… help students
interact with ideas
they encounter?
… provide learners
with alternatives
for demonstrating
what they know?
What did these students learn today? How do I know this?
In relation to the intended learning for the lesson, here is my initial assessment of student progress:
Exceeding expectations
Meeting expectations
Approaching expectations
Not yet within and/or
Not sure
In this learning focus, what are the next priorities for these students?
How might the insights you’ve gleaned from this lesson study inform your practice if you were to teach
a lesson to this class tomorrow?
Lesson Plan Template- adapted from: Brownlie, F, Feniak, C, & Schnellert, L. (2006). Student Diversity: Classroom challenges to meet
the needs of all learners (2nd ed.). Markham: Pembroke Publishers.
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