The Chicago Lesson Study Group

2011 Tenth Annual Lesson Study Conference

Bringing the Common Core Standards to Life

Thursday – Saturday, May 12 – 14, 2011
Newberry Math and Science Academy,
700 W. Willow, Chicago, IL
CPDUs will be available

Sponsored by:
  • Chicago Lesson Study Group
  • Lesson Study Alliance
  • Global Education Resources
  • Newberry Math and Science Academy
  • Chicago Teachers Union

The Chicago Lesson Study Group invites you to its tenth lesson study conference. For the last ten years, this conference has been one of the major lesson study conferences in the world, examining lesson study from a global perspective with speakers from Australia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. As the practice of lesson study expands, we hope to have your input and contributions presented at the May 2011 conference.

Facilitators:
  • Akihiko Takahashi, Department of Teacher Education, DePaul University, Illinois
  • Tad Watanabe, Department of Mathematics, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
  • Makoto Yoshida, Director of the Center for Lesson Study, William Paterson University, New Jersey
  • Toshiakira Fujii, Tokyo Gakugel University
Featured Presentations:
  • The Common Core State Standards for Math: Great Hopes and Deep Fears
    Steven Leinwand, Principal Research Analyst at American Institutes for Research, Washington D.C.

  • What Teachers Need to Effectively Implement the Common Core State Standards
    Akihiko Takahashi, Department of Teacher Education, DePaul University, Illinois

  • Incorporating the Common Core into your Lesson Study Work
    Tad Watanabe, Department of Mathematics, Kennesaw State University, Georgia

  • Conducting Lesson Study Effectively
    Makoto Yoshida, Director of the Center for Lesson Study, William Paterson University, New Jersey

  • Why and How the Chicago Teachers Union Promotes Lesson Study
    Carol Caref, Chicago Teachers Union.
Research Lessons:
  • Each participant will see 2 live research lessons, one Thursday and one Friday.

Conference Program: Click here to download (PDF)

Registration:

Deadline for registration is Friday, April 29, 2011. Because of the nature of the lesson study, the number of participants is limited, and registration may close BEFORE April 29. We accept payment by major credit cards. Confirmation of the registration will be sent by e-mail.

Cancellation: Cancellation notices must be submitted by April 29, 2011 for a partial refund of $220 for the registration. No refunds are available for cancellations after April 29.

If you need to set up purchase order, please contact Makoto Yoshida at Global Education Resources: myoshida@globaledresources.com.

Accommodations
The Willows Hotel is the designated hotel during the conference, refer to “Chicago Lesson Study Conference Group”. The rate is $139 - 169 per night for a single room, and reservations should be made by April 18, 2011. The Willows Hotel will provide complimentary shuttle service to and from the Hotel and Newberry Math and Science Academy for the conference meetings. The hotel amenities include complimentary continental breakfast, free wireless Internet access, luxury robes, 24-hour coffee and tea service, and access to Bally’s Total Fitness. The hotel also has parking facilities for $22 a day with 24 hour in and out privileges.

To make reservations, participants should directly contact:
The Willows Hotel
555 West Surf St.
Chicago, IL 60657
Direct Line: 773.528.8400
*Please specify that you are calling for the hotel reservation for attending the Chicago Lesson Study Conference in May.

For hotel overflow inquiries, please contact Jennifer Manguino directly at 773.404.3499. We have three hotels in the same neighborhood and we will provide complimentary shuttle service at all three properties.

What is Lesson Study?
Lesson study, widely viewed in Japan as the primary form of professional development, has been the critical systemic feature that enabled 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 content, 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 research lesson is taught in a regular classroom with students, and participants observe as the lesson unfolds in the actual teaching-learning context. Discussion following the lesson is developed around the student-learning data collected during the observation. Through the process, teachers are given opportunities to reflect on their teaching and student learning. Lesson study has become increasingly visible in state, national, and international conferences, open houses, high-profile policy reports, and special journal issues in recent years in the United States. Moreover, some school districts in the United States have attempted to use it to change their practice and impact student.

Chicago Lesson Study Group
The Chicago Lesson Study Group was launched in November of 2002 with several volunteer teachers in Chicago area. Since its inception, this informal study group has met regularly to discuss issues in mathematics teaching and learning and to develop research lesson plans. As part of the lesson study cycle, the group hosts an annual lesson study conference with public research lessons.