What I Have Learned about Inquiry

Throughout the last few months, I have read articles, dived into different resources and attended team meetings  to discuss FDK, Inquiry Stance and Play-based learning.  When I began this journey I expected to experience some pitfalls, some negatives to having more of an inquiry stance in the classroom- but honestly I have nothing but wonderful things to say. What I have seen, learned, heard and experienced with the children has been so valuable.  My view of the child has not changed.  I have always tried to teach the whole child.  But now I actually plan for honouring student voices, student wonderings.  I won't go back to teaching the way I was.  I will take all of the good I feel I did before and weave my new thinking in, to hopefully create a more effective learning environment.  I will continue to grow as I read, wonder and digest what I have learned.  I will continue to develop an inquiry stance.  

What I Have Learned Through This Journey...

*Start small by first deciding with your children something they would like to inquire about.  As you use the time to listen to student wonderings and ideas, you will begin to see/hear the thinking and appreciate the life inquiry can bring to your classroom.  As you become more comfortable with taking an inquiry stance, you will be ready for more

*Look carefully at your curriculum- even if you have been teaching it awhile.  Look at it with a new lense- an inquiry lense

*Spend time sitting on the floor in a circle with students to discuss what they want to find out and how they would like to explore and discover.  The circle is powerful.

*Allow student voices to be heard and don't interject.  Allow for the students to discuss, debate and decide

*Give students the freedom to show their learning in different ways-art, drawing, words, labels/diagrams, lists, ipads (i.e. different apps such as "Show Me")

*Give time for students to share what they have learned with their peers and celebrate 

*Use a class blog to help document the learning in the classroom and celebrate what the children are doing, predicting, thinking and discovering.  Share successes with colleagues, parents and the children

*Focus more on the big ideas in the curriculum rather than the specific expectations. Specific Expectations are there to guide and help students achieve the big ideas.

*Set up the learning environment so that it is a calm, inviting space that acts as the "Third Teacher."  Children are also responsible for the space so have them help.  Not only try to build a strong relationship with students but use the classroom to engage them by setting up learning areas that are irresistible to a child

*Allow for movement and let children be creative, to use items in different ways (i.e. the blocks don't need to just stay in one area)

*Make sure materials and manipulatives are accessible for students to use

*Have more student-created materials than store-bought ones

*Bring in interesting items to spark curiosity and get creative juices flowing

As I continue to wonder, question, read, consider, digest and explore over the summer with resources, I will share with you my thoughts... my journey continues...