This case study presents the analysis of teacher-student interaction in physics classrooms. The participants of the study were three physics teachers and 131 students from three upper primary schools (Grades 7 and 8) of Ethiopia. Data for the study were collected through observation of eight video recorded physics lessons. The analysis of videos indicated the teacher-student interaction in the existing physics classrooms were characterized by the transferring of factual knowledge; Initiation-Response-Evaluation (IRE) and Initiation-Discussion-Computation-Response-Evaluation (IDCRE) types of interaction pattern; interactive/authoritative type of communication, evaluative feedback and use of low-level oral questions. Authoritative classroom communication, use of low-level questions, evaluative feedback; inappropriate intervention and support were the aspects of teacher-student interaction that seemed to influence the implementation of dialogic teaching as such type of classroom practices contradict the principles of dialogic teaching.