The Book Fort
Instructional Ideas for Immediate Implementation
Welcome to The Book Fort: Issue 35
@BookFortNews #BookFort
Week 35: Dive into Inquiry
In my research, I came across this week's feature, Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice (2016) by Trevor Mackenzie. Written by a teacher for teachers, this book is a thought-provoking, practical, and real story of how shifting traditional instructional methods into an inquiry-based approach can transform learning for even the most challenging students, those who we've busted our butts to help, despite the constant barriers that seem to impede academic progress. In Mackenzie's Introduction to the book, he speaks of something many of my colleagues know well, particularly those who work in Title I schools: "...in spite of all we were doing to better meet the needs of our students, I felt I was missing something I continued to ask the big questions I think all educators ask: Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? What can I change? What can I do to support everyone in my room?" After many approaches and years of changes, Mackenzie decided to #diveintoinquiry.
This week I present a few ideas of his that I think you might find both useful and interesting. Get a copy of the book here and follow Mackenzie on Twitter @trev_mackenzie. He has a newer text out for younger students as well called Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders, and Curiosities of Our Youngest Learners (2018). Also, don't miss the fabulous and talented artist (among many other things!) Sylvia Duckworth (@sylviaduckworth) who is featured in the fabulous graphics below.
Changing the Landscape of Learning
If you're ready to take the plunge into inquiry-based learning, Mackenzie recommends setting three big goals for the first few weeks of the process:
- Gradually begin to flip control of learning in the room from the teacher to the learner.
- Create an atmosphere of trust on which we can rely in the coming months.
- Begin to unpack inquiry and build the foundation for our learning for the year.
The biggest takeaway from Chapter 1 is relationships must come first. You know it, I know, Trevor Mackenzie knows it, but this gets lost in the clerical part of the first few days of school, the shuffling of schedules, the administration of pre-tests, the countless interruptions, the meetings. Commit to setting aside dedicated time for getting to know your students, for developing peer-to-peer relationships, for co-designing the learning, and for redefining the role of the teacher. Challenging students to co-design the curriculum (Chapter 2) will also be challenging and uncertain for you if you've never taken this leap. Try giving surveys and a offering the few non-negotiables, such as standards you must cover, but asking various types of questions early on about topics, ways to demonstrate learning, and methods of instruction. Ask students what really good teaching looks like (Chapter 3) and redefine your role as their teacher.
Be open to their responses and adapt your class curriculum to them. If you do this in the first few weeks, inquiry-based learning will begin to take root and flourish more easily.
Understanding and Assessing Inquiry
Mackenzie moves beyond setting the framework and environment for learning into the actual process of learning by first providing multiple, varied perspectives and definitions of inquiry-based learning, including videos and projects from various schools using the method successfully. The students critique the definitions and approaches, identifying and discussing the risks and opportunities in each. As a whole class, they draft a list of the insights, thus setting the stage for student agency and ownership of their learning.
Then, consider the five types of student inquiry, featured in the graphic below, which has been featured on Edutopia and KQED MindShift in the past. "Students should feel connected to their learning, certain about how to plan their inquiry, and comfortable with its responsibility" (Chapter 5). This allows for a gradual introduction to the inquiry process, just as a gradual release of control in the classroom.
The Free Inquiry Process
- The Four Pillar of Inquiry (shown below)
- Create an Essential Question
- Create Your Free Inquiry Proposal
- Begin to Explore and Research
- Collect Learning Evidence
- Create Your Authentic Piece
- Public Display of Understanding
Very similar to the Genius Hour steps recommended by Andi McNair, this approach scaffolds learning and focuses on formative assessment checks throughout the free inquiry process to add some structure and culminates in a public display of student work, which is always a win. Mackenzie has found that following these steps allows him to truly tailor his attention and instruction to the individual needs of his students and the process has increased the authenticity of student work exponentially. Lord knows we could use more of that!!
Website of the Week
Free Rice
Ed Tech Tool of the Week
Showbie
What Students Are Reading
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
The War that Saved My life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
I am Princess X by Cherie Priest
Missed Previous Issues?
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Kristie Hofelich Ennis, NBCT
Email: kennis@murraystate.edu
Location: Dublin, OH, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/kristie.hofelich
Twitter: @KristieHEnnis