An informal learning community for educators worldwide. Our passion for learning and connected learning experiences help us to improve our teaching practices. #txeduchat features guest moderators every week.
If you're hanging out this evening and want to get some great PD, join me now at #txeduchat for an hour of @trev_mackenzie and some great Texas educators.
#txeduchat A1: Inquiry is really the heart of our learning in Kindergarten. Everything we partake in begins with a question or provocation to really tap into learners' curiosities. Throughout our year together we are moving through @trev_mackenzie 's Types of Student Inquiry.
A1 use essential questions or how might we...? statements to guide our creativity and innovation, use an inquiry model, have developed a learning guide to scaffold learning #txeduchat
#txeduchat A1 We use data from pre-assessments and assessments to steer and guide our teaching of the learning objectives. Be smart in your lessons, don't spend time on items mastered by students and DO SPEND time on topics where they are struggling. #AlwaysBelieve
A1: a great way is starting with a short prompt or better yet a picture and spend time just questioning, no answers at first just questions. #txeduchat
A1: Middle school students jump at questions abt their world.. ie how many photos on your phone?... Let’s box and whisker plot it... Are you an outlier?!! #txeduchat
A1: In a math setting every lesson should start with an open ended question that fits with the storyline of the unit. It is much easier to engage in inquiry when you are part of an evolving story #txeduchat
Couldn't agree more Crystal! Check out this provocation sketchnote by @rbathursthunt and I in #inquiryMindset. It touches down on your point beautifully! #txeduchat
I’ve been doing a lot of QFT with my class, especially in science. They really enjoy it and it really gets them thinking about the topic at hand! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A1. Hello all. This is my first chat session. I am a Ph.D candidate at the University of North Texas and my assignment this week was to learn to Tweet. My answer as a CM2 teacher is, when I see they are not listening, I give room to talk it out.
A1 Posing a question, or issuing a design challenge, but little more, allows the student to choose the specific approach, and design a solution consistent with their knowledge and experience. #TxEduChat
A1: Middle school students jump at questions abt their world.. ie how many photos on your phone?... Let’s box and whisker plot it... Are you an outlier?!! #txeduchat
A1: In a math setting every lesson should start with an open ended question that fits with the storyline of the unit. It is much easier to engage in inquiry when you are part of an evolving story #txeduchat
A2 inferring / prediction / connections — a vocabulary pair up game at the onset of new learning builds interest - creates intrigue & kicks off inquiry #txeduchat
A2 I pose a statement or question a lot. We look at how others have solved the problem and I have my Ss solve/discover solutions. Pretty much any subject/topic can have inquiry. KWL & bubble maps are huge for my Ss. #txeduchat
A1: I use a more structured inquiry to start off, but then go for it as students start asking their own questions. We also use our #geniushour time for Ss to do their own inquiry. #txeduchat
A2: Create an atmosphere of curiosity. For example, if I have Ss stand 18-inches apart, I'll ask Ss to generate Qs about why. Then, I'll show them a video of the Lake Peigneur disaster as an example of why measurement is important. #txeduchat
A1 Deeper learning is driven by inquiry. As an academic coach, I support ts in finding ways to let ss explore w/o having to have "answers" right away. Ss are more invested in their learning if they're driving. #txeduchat
A1 I ask my Ss what do you want to learn, how do you want to go about learning it & what will you do with the information once you have acquired it. We create action plans & then they inquire about something that they are interested in. The results have been amazing. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A2: I used to emphasize that no one has all the answers, but that everyone has the ability to find answers.I modeled asking and searching and asking different questions for my students. (I taught writing, so I tried to make inquiry part of our process to find meaning.
#txeduchat Provocations! I so agree. My favourite way to begin inquiry is through provocations. Our role as teachers is to be designers for sure, and knowing our students (and their curiosities and wonders) helps to guide this process.
#txeduchat Agreed, not sure Ss need a formal introduction to inquiry, their brains are wired to answer interesting questions, we just need to take advantage of that to help them learn.
Agreed Ryan! I've seen the need for more of a transition when we are moving away from the teacher-centred room towards the student-centred room. #txeduchat
#txeduchat Choice, voice and ownership over their learning comes when students are given flexibility in how publicly display what they know. Thanks, Alex!
A1 Posing a question, or issuing a design challenge, but little more, allows the student to choose the specific approach, and design a solution consistent with their knowledge and experience. #TxEduChat
A2: i introduce on the first day of school. I teach 5th grade science and it's so important that we start observing and wondering as soon as possible. I also like to start with a visual stimulus have them ask 5wh questions about it. Then they choose one. #txeduchat
A3: the greatest benefits are the pure joy I see in their eyes when they have their “Ah,ha” moments. I also really enjoy the collaboration and creativity my students exhibit! #txeduchat
A3: Math was developed to problem solve with the world around us. Without inquiry, the content become a dry set of rules. If the problem does not require inquiry it probably isn’t interesting #STEMeducation#STEM#txeduchat
A3 Ss are more engaged when they are involved in answering questions they themselves generated. Learning sticks! Appetite for learning grows! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3: Greatest benefits is children RUNNING into school excited to learn, research and share. Also, the strong connection ties that inquiry creates between families and the learning at school. Family involvement is high during inquiry, which brings on resource sharing!
A3 With inquiry based learning, the kids are the ones doing the work...the thinking, the problem solving, making the connections. That’s where the learning happens! #txeduchat
A3: I've witnessed increased engagement as well as more ownership/interest in learning outcomes. We are all naturally curious, and want to find answers, so inquiry-based classrooms are ripe for success. #txeduchat
A3: Ss on fire not only for the learning target(s) but expanding their thoughts and ideas into new realms. When a S comes back the next day and says something like "check out what I found about ___ last night" when not required #txeduchat
A3: greatest benefit has to be how empowered the Ss feel. I don't answer questions in my classroom. At first Ss are frustrated by this, but quickly realize they don't need me to answer. They can figure it out. I just help them find the tools they need. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3: It empowers students to know how they can find answers and engage in the process of learning & creating meaning without "needing" anyone to tell them what to do next.
#txeduchat A4: Jumping ahead too soon into the deeper end of Inquiry. I continue to remind myself to GO SLOW, TO SCAFFOLD, TO WORK ON QUESTIONS and to build on developing my students' inquiry mindset. Scaffolding is KEY.
A4: one challenge that comes to mind is the direction some of questions go when I start with an image. I have an end game in mind, but sometimes the students aren’t headed in my direction. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3: Greatest benefits is children RUNNING into school excited to learn, research and share. Also, the strong connection ties that inquiry creates between families and the learning at school. Family involvement is high during inquiry, which brings on resource sharing!
#txeduchat SO true!! Being flexible and following their lead is the name of the game. I completely agree with you, I find it challenging at time even when we know it's best practice.
A4: It can get messy for sure...the biggest challenge I've experienced is not scaffolding or structuring inquiry well enough to set Ss up for success. It's a process of experience for educators too #txeduchat
A4 the challenge & the best part are the same - how to design individualialized inquiry learning experiences that meet the needs of unique learners. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A4 Some Ss you teach are "resistant" to putting forth the effort required for inquiry learning. You need to "PUMP UP" the show time in your class to get them hooked. Even then... It is like you are riding a mule in the Kentucky Derby. Don't give up, finish the race.
A4: This is a process. It takes time to build the classroom environment that allows questions to easily generate. Ss are out of practice, and aren’t used to it. There may be many fails in the beginning. #txeduchat
A3 The things that they produce and the passion that they have when they share is amazing!! This is a perfect example of one of my Ss products that he has continued even after the class has ended!! https://t.co/KBwgmSVokz#txeduchat
The scaffolding we propose in #DiveintoInquiry and #InquiryMindset aims to support students in having a different role in their learning by nurturing the skills and understandings needed with increased student agency #txeduchat
A4: Students have been conditioned to think that #STEM is the process of memorizing and regurgitating formulas. Challenging that belief system can be difficult. But once students are exposed to learning the content through a new lens they quickly engage #txeduchat
A4: time. Providing Ss with the time it takes to do true inquiry. This was my number 1 reason for #geniushour my Ss now have at least an hour a week to continue their inquiry #txeduchat
A2 I guess an inquiry classroom should just be a classroom that is focused on learning; being curious about their world and adding texture to it through their own innovations and creativity #txeduchat
It's also eye-opening to see ss unlearn "learned helplessness". Ss don't need us to show them how to do it; they need us to help them figure how to do it for themselves. #txeduchat
Free questioning, then grouping to create one question from many, using open discussion can help you to guide the process a bit. It can be challenging at times though. #txeduchat
This scaffolding graphic helped me so much when I first started seeing you post it. It made it so easy to help my students ease into the process. #txeduchat
#txeduchat I appreciate that you say this as a kinder teacher. They can do it, but "scaffolding is key." Many Ts of younger Ss shy away from this level of scaffolding and agency. 5-year-olds are pretty capable...
#txeduchat A4: Jumping ahead too soon into the deeper end of Inquiry. I continue to remind myself to GO SLOW, TO SCAFFOLD, TO WORK ON QUESTIONS and to build on developing my students' inquiry mindset. Scaffolding is KEY.
A4 Many ss have developed a "learned helplessness". They are so accustomed to having the thinking done for them that it takes them a bit to realize what they're capable of. #txeduchat
This is a powerful factor in ed reform. Ss are used to, and often rewarded, for following an older style and system of instruction. This leaves then unprepared for the change in culture and process inherent in newer approaches. #TxEduChat
#txeduchat I hear this often. I am a HUGE advocate for believing that our youngest learners come to school FULL of curiosity, passion +wonder. It is our role to guide them in beginning to ask questions and finding ways to honor their wonders so that they continue to share them.
A5: one way I’ve scaffolded inquiry is my posting subtopics about our overall topic and allowing the kids to walk from@chart to chart and write their questions down. I feel like this allows all of my learners to work st their own pace. #txeduchat
#txeduchat The types of inquiry graphic is the backbone to our learning throughout the year. In kinder we begin in structured and continue through the types as we are ready. Meeting learners where they are at is huge, and developing the skill set to move forward is a MUST.
A5: #txeduchat The types of inquiry graphic is the backbone to our learning throughout the year. In kinder we begin in structured and continue through the types as we are ready. Meeting learners where they are at is huge, and developing the skill set to move forward is a MUST.
A5: Start with an individual conversation where the student is simply answering leading questions. They will naturally begin to inquire. Stop and reflect with the student on their success. This can slowly build the confidence they need to question on their own #txeduchat
A5: I start by letting Ss ask questions and then discussing the questions as a whole group. Is question yes/no/dictionary or can we actually DO something to answer it. For science, I start by focusing on questions they can test. Then I release as they seem ready. #txeduchat
Yes! Littles can do BIG things, too. Starting the process early can allow that wonder they naturally have continue on. Imagine the possibilities. #txeduchat
A3 I missed the question... what are the benefits? If Ss know how to learn for themselves, nothing can stop them. But I’m not talking about passing a test, these are learning skills for life #txeduchat
A5 well - jumped the gun - scaffolding pre/learning— teaching collaboration— and providing inquiry learning options like passion projects and genius Hour ... #txeduchat
A5 We definitely use @trev_mackenzie Types of Student Inquiry. Start with structure and slowly release when they are ready. Each Ss needs different things from me so there is a lot of discussions and individual action plans have seemed to work the best. #txeduchat
I don't think it is showing kids exactly what they need to do but setting the stage to allow them to really get after the heart of inquiry successfully. I believe it needs to be differentiated as the T knows their Ss best and what they need for successful inquiry #txeduchat
A6: #txeduchat Know your learners, what drives them, what are they passionate about and then, START SMALL. Begin with adding ways to promote and honor curiosity and wonder into your practice and classroom. Perhaps a wonderall, a provocation a week item... my list goes on.
A6: My advice would be to start off with lots of modeling and just go with the flow. It’s hard giving up control, but just know and have confidence that your students can do it. It’ll lead to such great discoveries for your students and yourself! #txeduchat
A6: Regardless is the content you teach, start every lesson with an open ended question. Make sure the lesson fits into larger storyline of the unit. End each unit with a culminating project. #edchat#mathchat#pbl#STEM#txeduchat
#txeduchat A6 As the years go by you learn how to motivate and steer your Ss learning, you will discover that you are doing inquiry learning along the way. It's a natural part of being a veteran competent Tr.
A6: Do it! Start with a more teacher-directed inquiry, but be ready to let Ss take the reins. They will surprise you. Also, resist the urge to end Ss struggle. Let them struggle a little. #txeduchat
It’s a multi-leveled idea. Some students need a little more guided or direction. Some can take on much more. I love stem challenges & experiments. So much inquiry and discovery involved. Sentence stems are great! #txeduchat
A6 Cultivate an environment of safety in your classroom where risk taking and “failure” are celebrated as learning opportunities. Know your learners...trust them...help them to believe that “they can...!” #txeduchat
I do genius projects, stations, small groups, experiments, and steam/stem activities. Some are student driven too. Like the peaceful protest we did last week. #txeduchat
#txeduchat the Man in the Yellow Hat had this figured out... patience, encouragement, some freedom, and endearment for George... as we can do with our Ss.
A6: Regardless of the content you teach, start every lesson with an open ended question. Make sure the lesson fits into the larger storyline of the unit. End each unit with a culminating project #edchat#mathchat#pbl#txeduchat
A “guide” per sé. Like the instructions on a flat pack cabinet... here’s how we recommend you put it together... but if you want to restart 3 times because you’ve something on backwards in step 1, go for your life! #txeduchat
In reply to
@ryanvhill, @TracieGCain, @woodard_julie
A7 I love using #Seesaw and #Flipgrid ! They both give Ss a voice and choice in demonstrating their learning. Awesome way to share and interact with other Ss responses. #txeduchat
A7 oh geeee: google classroom is huge for individualization!! @flipgrid discussions— virtually reality tours - skyping with the world ..fun !!! #txeduchat
A7: In my district, we have one-to-one devices. I like giving my students the ability to inquire about topics we are talking about in class. We use.l @DiscoveryEd and @Newsela to investigate our interests/passions. We also like to use @padlet to do our questioning! #txeduchat
A7: I start the year with brief lessons on Scratch, AI2, Thunkable. I tried cospaces & thinglink. This yr we started https://t.co/1VREG0V982 & Adobe Spark. I try to front load the tool box. Like handing them the keys to the car. #txeduchat
A7: I have eliminated lectures. Ss access the content through self made videos. Ss work at their own pace and certainly do not move on without proving mastery. This frees me up to engage in rich individual and small group discussions with Ss that are #inquiry driven #txeduchat
#BCEdChat live in 5 minutes! We are talking about developing an entrepreneurial spirit in your students! Hope you can spend an hour with us and take away a few ideas for school! We are live at 7pm, PST! #txeduchat#mnlead#wischat#caedchat#iaedchat
A7: Have you seen Google Science Journal App. Has a record feature. I just found out about it. We're gonna build an air rocket that can carry the phone & measure change in Y in m/s. I'll post pics on Twitter next week. #txeduchat
#txeduchat I appreciate that you say this as a kinder teacher. They can do it, but "scaffolding is key." Many Ts of younger Ss shy away from this level of scaffolding and agency. 5-year-olds are pretty capable...
#txeduchat A4: Jumping ahead too soon into the deeper end of Inquiry. I continue to remind myself to GO SLOW, TO SCAFFOLD, TO WORK ON QUESTIONS and to build on developing my students' inquiry mindset. Scaffolding is KEY.
As much as I love technology, I do believe we have to be cognizant of not losing our relationships because kids are always using tech. Balance!!!#txeduchat
Before we start to wrap up and wander off, I want to thank our host @trev_mackenzie for joining us! Great job! Also delighted that his co-author, @rbathursthunt joined in too. #txeduchat
A7 Inspired by @globalearner & his views on giving Ss purpose, I try to get my students to connect with the real world & create a network. We use twitter to research, share, create community, to make a difference, to have a voice. #txeduchat
Before we start to wrap up and wander off, I want to thank our host @trev_mackenzie for joining us! Great job! Also delighted that his co-author, @rbathursthunt joined in too. #txeduchat
