rhonda

[|Essential Questions] Not a great link, just practising adding links. [|Creating Inquiry Projects][|wikipedia-Inquiry] [|Inquiry based Learning]


 * What is Inquiry?

The amount of information on the internet about inquiry is overwhelming and it takes time to sort through. My thoughts on inquiry are a result of professional reading, summer workshops, curriculum requirements, and recent school pd workshops. Today has been more learning of tools in technology which are an integral part of inquiry projects. Elements of inquiry are nothing new

Reflection I-3:00pm- Today, I don't think I learned much more about inquiry itself but about technology that I can use with my students in my inquiry units. It was a lot to learn and quite overwhelming, and as with everything, will require time and exploration for further understanding. But interesting. I look forward to working on units and finding more ways to shift how I teach so students have the opportunity to learn in this way. I have many students in my class who will "fly" with this approach. I just want to be prepared so that my guidance is not inhibiting but at the same time, students have direction and time is used well.

[|QAR] Go to Instructional Strategy link to see example of passage with three types of questions.

What classroom environment features stimulate inquiry? There needs to be a classroom environment where students are fully involved in their own learning. We learned today some ways that teachers can incorporate drama activities and reading comprehension strategies which can help accomplish this. Donna also showed us how to help students with effective searches and how to evaluate sites while they are researching, which of course is a huge part of inquiry.

What are essential questions and why are they important? Essential questions provoke deep thinking, help students make connections, enable them to drive their own learning, and are motivating because they are connected to their prior knowledge, their life, and their experience. Essential questions guide the inquiry.

Reflection II, 3:06 pm, Day Two; Inquiry is a valid framework for learning because it allows for differentiated instruction which is so necessary in our diverse classrooms. It motivates students by connecting it to their own life and isn't that half the battle?

Nov 25/26th November 25th. Truth: It is important to write down usernames and passwords if they vary from the usual. Writing an inquiry unit, using outcomes from the new curriculum, is a struggle but the time to work on it collaboratively is valuable. In the end, I Iook forward to having a well-written inquiry unit which I can use in my classroom in the spring and can be used by others. I am wondering why elementary teachers are continually asked to develop new resources to fit new curricula?

Nov 26th Assessment Assessment for: This is teacher driven and has been known as formative assessment. It is diagnosing where students are at to allow for differentiated instruction. Assessment as: students learn to self-reflect to monitor own progress and set goals Assessment of: summative, measures progress against standards, usually to report to parents

Reflection: Challenge-Writing the unit is challenging because it is difficult to choose indicators without knowing what skills will be focused on. We seem to be making things more difficult or over-thinking it, yet on the same note, we want to end up with a valuable, useful finished product. A-ha-Assessment in the new ELA curriculum not all new, but the assessment as is.**