Fitting Lesson Study to the Portuguese Context

Abstract

The adaptation of lesson study to different national contexts raises problems that are attracting the attention of researchers. In this chapter, we show how we have conducted lesson study in Portugal, taking into account the national educational context and our perspective on the teaching of mathematics, the exploratory mathematics curriculum approach, with particular attention on the development of students’ mathematical reasoning. We present two examples of lesson study, one conducted with in-service teachers of grades 5-6 and another in initial teacher education with prospective teachers of grades 7-12. We reflect on what we have identified as the main obstacles to the realization of lesson study in these contexts due to cultural factors and teachers’ concerns. We conclude with a summary of the adaptations that we have made in this teacher education process, with a view to the suitability and potential of lesson study in our country.