How has learning about inquiry and creating a 'wondering' influenced the way in which you think about what you see at your PDS? Your responses may include your thoughts about teaching, students, student learning, your own learning, or a combination of these. Make sure you consider your thoughts in light of your understanding of inquiry as a way to study your own practice, your students learning, and your own interests or 'passions' as a teacher.
Learning about inquiry has taught me a lot about what I see at my PDS. I think about the things I observe in a different manner. For example, when I see different strategies the teacher uses, I think about it in relationship to research and why she would be using that method rather than another. I can see how inquiry would be useful to any teacher. It is the practice of trying different things, and studying it to see if it really worked, or if something else might work better.
When teachers utilize inquiry, it makes it much easier for the students. I have seen this many times during my school career. Everyone has had a teacher who does the same exact activities every single year and never changes a thing. Of course teachers would use some of the same activities throughout the years because they are probably good activites. But after teaching the same thing for fifteen years, I would think it would be time to mix it up a little. More than that, the students have changed, and the technology has changed so there may be a better way to go about teaching a particular lesson. I have heard the term "best practice" a lot and I have come to realize that what is "best practice" one year or for one group of students probably isn't the next year or for a different class.
This is where inquiry comes in. The teacher can test to see if what he/she is doing is in fact still working, or if it is need of an update. Teachers who are able to do this are much more effective and interesting to the students. When I see different techniques being used at my PDS, I often wonder if that is something I could incorporate into my "wonderings" and if there has been any research done on it. Inquiry has made me look at everything more from a scientific point of view rather than just guessing or assuming.
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Reading your post made me think of how, I too, have begun to think like a researcher or scientist. I feel that every tutoring session is a chance for me to learn and experiment. When I have one on one time with my students I base the way I approach the lesson on my prior experience. I reflect and know what worked and what did not work. Learning about inquiry has taught me that teaching will never be a boring career. To be a teacher you must always be willing to grow and learn. Like you said time is changing and soon when we have been teaching for 15 years the strategies we used now may not be the best way to teach in the future. We must always be willing to wonder and question because it is how we learn and become better teachers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about switching up ideas and strategies after some time. Like you mentioned, each year is different and therefore we have to adjust and form to our classes. What are some effective strategies that you are seeing thus far? Thank you for inviting me to your blog- great post!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are thinking on the lines of switching things up. However, I switch things up every year. I would get really bored teaching the same thing year after year. I also am constantly looking for ways to engage my students. Yes, I do keep some activities from year to year, but I have to switch them up based on the students I have.
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