Inquiry Part 2

Inquiry is a powerful and effective way of teaching and learning because it ignites curiosity and empowers children to take the lead. Inquiry is inclusive; all children have a voice. The teacher’s role is to guide, support, and encourage, not always a comfortable role as it requires teachers to step aside rather than the more traditional method of “stand and deliver.” The learning can be tailored so each child can take charge and become a productive learner. One of the current, and persistent, topics in education is the achievement gap. While Minnesota’s students continue to perform near the top of the nation overall, there remains a striking gap in achievement for students of color compared to white students. Instead of thinking about this achievement gap simply in terms of lower test scores, we are approaching it as a multi-faceted opportunity gap and  believe the inquiry method of teaching and learning is the best strategy for closing this gap.

Children and families come to schools with different experiences, skills, and opportunity. There’s a lot of talk about “school readiness” but who and what defines a child’s readiness for school? Typically and traditionally school readiness connotes a middle-class value defining how a child should behave and what a child should know on that first day of school. However, many children in our schools today do not fall into this traditional standard definition. We assert that all children are naturally curious and are excited to learn that which they don’t know. This is where we must start.

Consider an inquiry-based classroom with these strategies in place:

• curiosity is triggered through the introduction of a concept
• children ask questions and steer the learning
• teachers act as guides to help focus the learning in order to meet standards and individual needs
• assessment is an ongoing, intentional, and meaningful process

     There is power in teachers being guides in the learning  so children can become problem solvers and experts. The children are motivated to learn more about relevant topics, concepts, and skills. Begin where the child is and ignite the desire to learn. We have seen it in action. It works.

     Learning should not be a chore. The achievement gap is a gap in opportunities for children and teachers in classrooms where we continue to do the same things over and over and expect different results. We must consider new ways of addressing our students’ needs. Inquiry is a strategy that allows the teacher and the learner to navigate the pieces and the process of learning. Look for us to address these individual pieces in upcoming blog posts. We welcome your input, ideas, and constructive criticisms. Let’s talk.