Started with theme bins

Was "sparked" by student teacher

Changed classroom environment and teaching

Continuing on journey

After teaching for 13 years moved from worksheets, crafts, themes to focus on play.

Inspired by Twitter teachers

Started using discovery bins.

Integrated technology

Continuing to grow and trying to fit it all in

How does an inquiry get started?

Setting out interesting and beautiful invitations to learning.

4 New discovery bins each week. Students engage in open-ended play experiences

Watch students closely

Take photos, video, notes

Pictures will remind you of student interests

Students can be inspired by the work of others.

Very visual.

How can a teacher plan for inquiry when do you don't know what will come next?

Template inspired by Joanne Babalis and Laurel Fynes.

This plan is in addition to strong classroom routines.

Routines help to ensure that curricular outcomes are covered.

In a half day program you need to be extremely organized to fit everything in.

Planting seeds for inquiry helps both classes to focus on one topic.

With new periods of extended "Thinking and Learning" time, we had to define the teacher's role.

Intentionally setting up the classroom with exciting invitations to learning.

Interesting materials to inspire a sense of wonder.

While students are playing, the teacher is recording observations in writing, photos, and videos.

These observations help to form next steps. Inform the teacher how to support students and extend their learning to the next level.

The teacher may not be an expert on the topic of inquiry but needs to be an expert on curriculum.

The teacher helps students to make connections between student interests and formal curriculum.

Our most important role.

Better with community either in person or online.

Forms next steps for learning.

We can learn so much from others. These slides show some ways that our classes connect with others.

We interact with other classes and experts online.

Parents are also able to see what we are learning, in real time.

Feedback from others tells us that our work is important.

Started by Jeff and Erin from Winnipeg.

http://eduphotoaday.blogspot.ca

Got us started with taking and sharing photos taken by students.

Formed community with other classes.

Our blogs are a great place to showcase all of our work and celebrate our learning.


http://www.room8-adventuresinkindergarten.blogspot.ca

http://kindergartenfunatlinwood.blogspot.ca

Allows us to connect with other educators and subject area experts.

https://education.skype.com

We are also able to connect with other classes who may have same interests as us.

Students use photos to document their learning.

Free app to collage photos and text. Students are able to take photos of their learning and write about it.

http://pic-collage.com

App for creating interactive books.

Classes start by making books together and move to independence.

Can export to movies and share on blogs, email, or epub.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/book-creator-for-ipad-create/id442378070?mt...

Students are able to compose their own Tweets to share about their learning.

Go to teacher for approval before tweeting.

Videos are an excellent way for students to share and celebrate their learning on any subject.

Excellent app for teachers to record observations of student learning. Notes can include photos, sound, and words.

Best feature is voice to text.