A student’s middle school science experience strongly impacts their future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics interest. The Japanese lesson study (JLS) model strengthens the student’s experience through a research-based, collaborative, multistep, teaching-centered process focused on transforming local instructional practices. The JLS model has seen very limited application to middle school life science classrooms. The six-year-long implementation of JLS to core standards in the seventh-grade life science curriculum at a Los Angeles area school serving a historically underrepresented population found large, gender-independent increases in student mastery of key science standards, increased teacher collaboration in the areas of lesson development and data analysis, and school-site reform yielding district and statewide recognition.
Enhancing Life Science Learning in Middle School: Unleashing the Power of Japanese Lesson Study
CHRIS CRANEY is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Biochemistry Program; Director of the Teachers + Occidental = Partnership in Science Program at Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
THOMAS LAU is a Science and STEM Teacher at the BP STEM Academy, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.
MIKE RUST is the Principal at the BP STEM Academy, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.
ROBERT M. de GROOT is the Science Education Researcher for the Teachers + Occidental = Partnership in Science initiative at Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
WILLIAM T. NELSON is the Assistant Principal at the BP STEM Academy, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.
ADRIANA GHOMESHI was a Science Teacher at Holland Middle School (BPUSD) and currently at Olive Middle School, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.
ALICIA OGAS was a Science Teacher at Holland Middle School (BPUSD) and currently is the TK-12 Program Specialist at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino, CA 92415.
Chris L. Craney, Thomas Lau, James Rust, Robert M. de Groot, William T. Nelson, Adriana Ghomeshi, Alicia Ogas; Enhancing Life Science Learning in Middle School: Unleashing the Power of Japanese Lesson Study. The American Biology Teacher 1 August 2024; 86 (6): 345–351. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2024.86.6.345
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