Mentor-Guided Lesson Study as a Tool to Support Learning in Field Experiences

Field experience can be a rich site for intern teachers to develop the knowledge and skills they need for effective teaching. Lesson study has been shown to be a powerful form of professional development that enhances practicing teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching through collaborative inquiry with their peers. In this article, we discuss the use of mentor-guided lesson study to support mentor and intern collaboration in the field and share what we have learned about its potential to support interns’ attention to student thinking. We will also share insights from the field for those interested in implementing this activity in teacher preparation coursework.