Started with theme bins

Was "sparked" by student teacher

Changed classroom environment and teaching

Continuing on journey

How does an inquiry get started?

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.

We connect through Skype, Twitter, Instagram. Students compose the words, read replies. Summarize their thoughts, meet experts, etc.

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.

Bring and show open-ended visual schedule.

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. (Provocations)

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.

Show Police Video

Our most important role.

Better with community either in person or online.

Forms next steps for learning.

We are lucky to work in a division that believes in the value of technology.

We each have access to a SmartBoard, desktop computer, 4 student iPads and 1 teacher iPad.

We also use our own laptops and iPhones.

The next slides show some ways we use technology in our classrooms.

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...

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

Best feature is voice to text.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/notability/id360593530?mt=8