Teacher Learning in a Community of Practice: A Case Study of ...

Extract from first lesson observation report (T = teacher; P = pupil):
Debbie explained to pupils that they were going to 'make' something. She wrote the word
'make' on the board. Asked pupils to suggest another word for 'make'. Varied responses
including 'do', 'finish', 'build' etc. Debbie asked them to think about a business. Eventually a
pupil answered 'produce'. Debbie praised the pupil.
T: What other words can we make from 'produce'?
P: Producer.
T: Yes, what's a producer?
P: Someone who makes.
T: Give me an example of a producer.
P: Like bread mam, a bakery makes cakes.
T: Yes.
P: And a factory, mam, for furniture.
T: Yes a bakery that makes bread and a factory that makes furniture. What other
words can we make from produce?
P: Producing.
T: Yes, anything else?
P: Production mam.
T: Very good, production. Who knows what's production? Who can explain what is
production?
P: It's like making mam.
T: Ja, its making things, when a factory makes things it's production. Okay, today you
will be making things. (Teacher writes the word 'production' on the board - and its
meaning - 'making').
Debbie divided the pupils into groups and explained the task. Pupils had to make a box. She
showed pupils a model of the box that she wanted them to make. It was a match box.
T: Let's see, what will we need to make this box? Yes Jan..
P: We'll need paper mam.
T: Yes we'll need cardboard. (writes on the board) what else?
P: What about Pritt, mam?
T: Yes, glue to stick. Who knows what the glue and cardboard are called?
(long pause)
T: It has two words.
P: Glue and cardboard mam, (giggles and class laughs).
T: (smiles) Very funny Rishen. Come on now, it starts with Rand M.
P: Raw materials mam.
T: Yes good Nerusha it's called raw materials. (Writes on the board). It's what we need
to make our box. What do we call the people who make the boxes in the factory?
P: Workers mam.
T: Ja, another word for workers, it starts with L.
P: Labour, mam.
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