TL;DR: Intentionally plan and invest in moments that significantly impact students’ lives, rather than leaving them to chance. Design school activities and lessons, from everyday classroom interactions to major events like graduation, to create memorable and transformative experiences. Educators need to balance structured planning with the flexibility to seize unplanned teachable moments, fostering curiosity, adaptability, and reflection in students. “The … Read More
Using Read-Alouds to Boost Inquiry
TL;DR: Reading aloud enhances inquiry-centered learning and fosters joy in the classroom. It improves vocabulary, models fluent reading, and benefits auditory learners. Active listening during read-alouds promotes self-awareness, social-emotional learning, and positive associations with reading, especially beneficial for older students. Reading texts aloud to your students—no matter what their age or independent reading level—is a great way to intensify inquiry-centered … Read More
Play and Science Can Fuel a Love of Learning
TL;DR: When planning your schedule, be intentional to include science so students can learn to ask questions to spark thinking, be wrong, and make mistakes. You can find time to teach the standards AND incorporate science. Try new ideas and explore with students. Have a space in your classroom, such as a wonder wall, to place student questions. Model questioning … Read More
Inquiry Focused Classrooms
TL;DR: An introduction to inquiry-focused classrooms. 3 simple questions educators can ask to determine the inquiry level in their classroom. Quick suggestions to increase inquiry in the classroom. What’s an Inquiry-Focused Classroom? While the term “inquiry” is pretty popular in education, I think sometimes it gets a bit overcomplicated. Inquiry learning can be a powerful tool that supports many other … Read More
It’s About Why, Not What – Getting Beyond the Facts and into the Meaning Behind the Learning
In this post: What really matters in learning – and why we so often miss it Please, don’t use the butterfly method or impose death-by-grammar-worksheets How to move from “What” to “Why” 3 ways you can make the shift right now Picture this – you are sitting in your next staff meeting and the district has brought in someone to … Read More