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Learning is in the 'Doing'

1/26/2014

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The other day, Bonny and I were reflecting on how engaged the students are during Inquiry Buddies once they start creating something, like a model or a website to present their learning. We were also noticing that it is while creating that they come up with and need to find the most important questions surrounding their initial inquiry.  Often the questions at the beginning are not ‘deep’, yet once students start creating, their questioning and research becomes deeper and more meaningful.
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Other questions also arise, not initially connected to their passion area, but instead building off of it.  For example, some students want to now create a website to communicate their learning.  They are invigorated by this new learning and are excited to add to their experience.

All weekend I have been thinking about parts of that conversation and how the creating process of Inquiry Buddies connects to my own teaching.  As a teacher I often think to myself “this lesson isn’t working” or “this class doesn’t understand ____________.”  I ponder it, I think about it and I try to come up with a plan.  Sometimes, I do and other times I don’t.  

I usually come up with the plan quickest when I start 'doing' something new.  Through the research, learning and reflective journey I can then better create a lesson that meets their needs.  The excitement of finding a new approach or of tailoring a lesson to a new group is what drives me.  My passion for learning spurs me on to new problem solving and learning solutions with each new class.

It is easy to teach the same lesson the same way every year.  It is equally easy to complain when the lesson fails with this year’s group when it worked wonderfully the year before.  It is even easier to blame it on something other than the lesson plan or project idea.  It is much harder to reflect on why it didn’t work this year and then create a plan to fix it.  Each group of students is unique and different; thus requiring different approaches and ideas to help engage them.  Through my own teacher inquiry process I am realizing that I am mirroring the learning journey of students when they participate in inquiry based activities. 

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Teacher Inquiry Buddies

1/12/2014

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What drives me as a teacher?  What do I wonder about?  What is driving my interests of passion?  Participating in teacher inquiry allows me to explore what I want to do professionally to grow and allows me to explore my passions in education.  

Last year, Bonny and I participated in a teacher inquiry project thanks to a grant from the BCTF, which was matched by our local, the LTA, and our school district #35.  This year, we were fortunate enough to secure another PQT (Program for Quality Teaching) grant through the BCTF which has also been matched by our local LTA (Langley Teacher's Association) and SD35.  Just before Christmas, we excitedly attended our first session for this year with our fabulous facilitator Henry Lee.  By having a second year to work on teacher inquiry, we are able to have more opportunities to reflect on our own teaching practice and grow as a community of learners.  Having time to collaborate with other teachers and have our own Inquiry Buddies is so valuable to helping us support our students and improve our teaching practices.

This year, Bonny and are continuing to pursue inquiry with our students using Inquiry Buddies as one of the ways that we ignite learning in our classrooms.  In addition, I am excited to have time to think about and collaborate with others around my new question.  

How do I authentically utilize technology to engage students in ways that were not previously possible?

The planning stages have started and we are excited for what is to come in the next few months!

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    Inquiry Buddies

    Nadine Keyworth, one of the co-founders of Inquiry Buddies, blogs here about her thoughts on Inquiry Buddies, Teacher Inquiry and Life in the Classroom!

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