Accomplishing lesson ending: bringing lesson to an end

Abstract

ABSTRACT This ethnomethodological study examines the dynamics of lesson closure in diverse classroom settings, drawing on the sequential analysis of five video-recorded lessons in history, literature, chemistry, and geography classes. The detailed analysis of teacher-student interactions during the lesson endings in a tenth-grade high school classroom in Ankara sheds light on the temporal, social, and interactional processes involved in concluding lessons. The ringing of the bell emerges as a key temporal marker signalling the end of the lesson, while teachers play a central role in orchestrating closure through verbal and non-verbal cues. The interactional dynamics between teachers and students also reveal the negotiation of roles and responsibilities, with students demonstrating orientation to the lesson closure through preparatory actions. Furthermore, the structured nature of lesson closure is evident in sequential patterns and the deployment of terminal components. The study highlights the dynamic nature of classroom interactions during lesson endings, underscoring the formal interactional dynamics at play. Overall, the findings contribute to the understanding of lesson closure processes and offer insights for educators, researchers, and policymakers aiming to enhance teaching and learning experiences in diverse educational contexts.