Planning For Inquiry
Weekly Timetable
Here is a draft version of a timetable to use at GME for scheduling LLC lessons & services.
I designed this timetable by referencing the schedule used by the current TL at my school and adapting it to create specific blocks for inquiry and collaboration with teachers. This would need to be adaptable to better accommodate specific teachers' needs and their own classroom schedules. It's a place to start!
OVERVIEW
*White colored blocks -Each class gets a 30 min. block every week
-TL will lead Mini-lesson + Read-aloud + Book Exchange Time
-Teachers can use this time for student assessments
-K & Grade 1 students will be buddied up with Grade 5s and 6s
*These blocks will be similar to what our school is already use to!
*Colored blocks (Green, Blue, Orange): -These blocks will be used to guide specific classes/grade groups through Inquiry Projects -These blocks should allow the TL to work with different classes during the year -Teachers will sign up for multiple blocks per week, for a certain amount of weeks, depending on projects and time needed (for example, one teacher could sign up for all the green blocks for 3 weeks in a row, getting a total of 9 blocks with TL) -TL will collaborate with teachers to plan and teach these blocks
*These blocks could also be used for literacy units as well, though ideally the two can be combined!
This schedule was originally created as part of the Queens course Reading and Literacy in The Primary Grades, and was slightly modified here.
Ideas of inquiry activities to incorporate into Mini-lessons of Book exchange Blocks
I planned these activities as a possible way to start doing inquiry with the whole school in year 1. This could be a good way to introduce the stages of the BCTLA's The Points of Inquiry model and dive into inquiry with students.
Here is another idea for a school-wide theme to guide inquiry lessons. From the Canadian School Libraries Journal "Inquiry-Based Learning Provocations" written by Beth Lyons.
Who could I start working with at my school when looking at Inquiry Blocks?
I would most likely start with the grade 3 cohort. Why?
- Some of them would be my previous students, from the previous year!
- Having lots of experience with grade 2s, I would have a good idea of their strengths and skill sets, and also the level of support needed (as they would be just beginning grade 3).
- I've known most of the grade 3 teachers for a long time and we get along well. We also have similar personalities and I think it would bring a level of comfort that I would need at the beginning.
- The grade 3s teachers (and students) would be in the same building as the LLC which would be an added bonus.
Here's a booklet I created to help me guide students through an inquiry project,
using BCTLA's The Points of Inquiry model.
English Version
Version française
Some Helpful Planning Documents
Remember... Keep in mind...
- Have clear goals/learning targets in terms of inquiry skills (see links above for BCTLA's planning packages which includes Inquiry-based Learning Outcomes + Reading connections/Grouped K-3 & 4-7)
- Get inspiration from what students are interested in, or what you are passionate about or interested in yourself
- Start with BC's curriculum's Big Ideas and Curricular Competencies for the grade levels in mind
- Consider how you are addressing the different Core Competencies through your lessons
- Think of ways you can support literacy skills through the inquiry process
- Examine how you can bring indigenous perspective to your inquiries
- Remember to talk to students about the links between feelings, thoughts and actions throughout the process (see Kuhlthau's Model of the Information Search Process from 2004, posted here)
- Make reflection central in your assessment practices
Image retrieved from Leslie K. Maniotes and Carol C. Kuhlthau 2014 Knowledge Quest article "The Shift: From Traditional Research Assignments to Guiding Inquiry" (p.10).
Resources To Help Students Ask Interesting Inquiry Questions
Making Connections to Real World Issues
See Wabisabi Learning Blog: "8 Exceptional Inquiry-Based Learning Activities Students Will Love"
Tips and advice from a teacher
See Madly Learning Website and YouTube Channel for helpful ideas, from Patti, a teacher in Ontario Canada.
"Madly Learning is [her] corner of the internet where [she] help[s] teachers learn to fit it all together to make teaching easier through, inquiry based learning, universal design, and differentiated instruction."
As described on the homepage of her website https://www.madlylearning.com/.
Teacher Librarian Aspirations!
Image from Trevor MacKenzie & Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt's book Inquiry Mindset.
Image retrieved from: https://www.trevormackenzie.com/school-posters.