Findings
showed no quantitative difference in frequency of practices between teachers in the control
group and the lesson study group either before or after the Lesson Study. Lesson Study
Observation Checklists indicated an impact of the lesson study discussion process on instruction
within the Lesson Study group. Interviews revealed homogeneity in the methods, strategies, and
climates teachers employ to foster creative and critical thinking. Findings revealed climates that
promote creative and critical thinking are supportive of collaboration, trusting, and valuing of
creativity. This study concluded that the instruction of creative and critical thinking is primarily
influenced by four factors: the use of research-proven strategies that foster students’ creative and
critical thinking, teachers’ own definitions of and experiences with creativity, participation in
professional development activities that include dialogue and reflection such as the Lesson Study
approach, and a school atmosphere that values, supports, and encourages collaboration and
teacher-designed, student-centered instructional methods. This research recommends that
educational practice includes building teachers’ background knowledge about creative and
critical thinking, giving teachers practical, proven ideas that are easily implemented within the
existing curriculum, and employing the Lesson Study approach as a professional development
tool. This study also recommends further investigation of the stages of development of creative
thinking for students, the stages of development in teaching for creativity and critical thinking,
and differences between how creativity can be used by individual teachers and teams of teachers.