A weekend of inquiry

Last weekend, I went to an intense workshop with Kath Murdoch on inquiry based teaching at the American School of Wroclaw. 

It was a great time to reflect on and extend my practice with teachers from around the world.

I centered myself on the idea that we teachers need to create the  space to cultivate curiosity.

Here are my 2 💥s and 1💙on my current practice:

💥 Creation time allows my students to spend 40 minutes a week designing and making whatever their heart desires
💥I feel like I am "Goldilocks" in my practice. Not too closed; not too open.
💙I want to help students bridge the gap between where they are at the start of the day and where they want to be.
So, if students are low energy, how can they power up to explore and learn? I want to help them recognize when they're off course and set goals to bridge the gap.

Bridging the gap to 3:30

I took away a few items that I will focus on during the exhibition:

• We will revisit our essential agreement and revise it for our exhibition. 
• We'll view Toto the Turtle and look at it from the perspective of the student, the mentor, and the teacher. To that end, I completed a chalk talk with the mentors. The students and I will review what they wrote and how they can get the most from their mentors
• The X factor: this year I want to try to organize a pitch session. Students will present their pitch  to a panel for feedback after researching form, function, connection, and change and before moving on to their actions. The pitch will include:



The pitch!

• Focus:
• Reason:
• Inquiry:
• Assist building:

I think that these modifications will help them take more control of their exhibition.

This group has been particularly hesitant to take control. They wait for unneeded permission. I hope that we're able to find the flow and they feel comfortable leading their own inquiry.
We start today!

Our classroom this morning; under new management

Internal view of our room this morning. 

The countdown to our celebration!