On Friday, September 18, we held this year’s Open Lesson Study. More than 80 teachers and educators from inside and outside Okinawa joined us and observed classes at AMICUS.

What matters most in a teacher’s work is the classroom lesson. We are always thinking about how we can make lessons clearer, deeper, and more meaningful for our students.

That is why we open our classrooms to others. Of course, it can be a little stressful to have other teachers observe our lessons. However, their honest comments and advice can help us notice things that we may not see by ourselves. Opening our lessons is not simply about being evaluated. It is an important opportunity for teachers to learn and grow so that we can provide better learning experiences for our students.

During this year’s Open Lesson Study, our teachers carefully reflected on their lessons and actively exchanged ideas with the visiting educators. Even after the lessons were over, teachers continued to ask themselves questions such as, “Was this the right question to ask?” “Could I have drawn out more of the students’ thinking?” and “How can I better meet the needs of each student?”

I believe this kind of reflection is what helps a school grow.

The Open Lesson Study is over, but improving our teaching is an ongoing process. We want to make each lesson a little better than the one before. These small improvements, day by day, lead to richer learning for our students.

Through this Open Lesson Study, I was reminded again that AMICUS still has great potential to improve its teaching. We will continue to learn, reflect, and take on new challenges for the sake of the children in front of us.

I would also like to sincerely thank all of our parents for your understanding and cooperation in making this event possible.

We truly appreciate your continued support of AMICUS and our educational activities.