Many educators understand that inquiry-based learning holds great potential but still need guidance to implement inquiry in their daily instructional practice. In this book, the authors provide a clear and concise approach to making inquiry-based learning a reality for any classroom. Discover why and how elementary teachers should adopt inquiry-based assessment and instructional practices to benefit their first- to third-grade learners.
Grades 1–3 teachers can use this book to: - Recognize how they can realistically and gradually integrate inquiry-based learning into their classrooms
- Answer questions individually or with colleagues to reflect on their journey into inquiry-based learning
- Read real-life accounts of inquiry in action across grade levels
- Assess what effective reflection and sharing look like in grades 1–3
- Access reproducibles that will help them with inquiry-based learning
Contents: Introduction: About THINQ
Chapter 1: Getting Started—Inquiry-Based Learning With Elementary Learners
Chapter 2: Assessment and Evaluation—Understanding How Elementary Learners Are Doing
Chapter 3: Wondering and Questioning—The Heart of Inquiry
Chapter 4: Finding Out—The Investigation and Exploration Phase of an Inquiry
Chapter 5: Making Sense—Helping Elementary Students Synthesize, Consolidate, and Reflect
Chapter 6: Reflecting and Sharing—Pushing Learning to a Deeper Level
Chapter 7: Wrapping It Up—What Matters Most
References and Resources
Index
Jill Colyer is the principal of Richland Academy, an innovative K–8 school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, that organizes its instructional program around inquiry-based learning. Jill has been committed to improving student outcomes and supporting teacher growth throughout her career. She has worked as a classroom teacher, education officer at the Ontario Ministry of Education, coordinator, and principal. She is also a consultant to educational publishers and gives workshops to teachers and administrators across Canada. Jill and her writing partner Jennifer Watt are the creators and consultants of the THINQ professional learning series.
Shannon Simpson is an assessment facilitator with the Simcoe County District School Board in Midhurst, Ontario, Canada. Passionate about innovation, critical thinking, and deep learning, she has been in education for twenty-five years as a secondary-school teacher and instructional resource teacher. Shannon has delivered a variety of workshops and presentations and has been a writer of curriculum materials and teacher resources.
Marie Swift has been a primary classroom teacher for the majority of her career. She has been a K–12 technology resource teacher and a literacy resource teacher for K–8 in the Simcoe County District School Board in Midhurst, Ontario, Canada. Marie has done a wide variety of workshops, presentations, and webinars on various topics to support educators, teacher candidates, administrators, and students. She is currently a teacher librarian in Barrie, Ontario.
Liz Davis is a principal of York Region District School Board in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about school-improvement work with a particular interest in building resilience and working to improve outcomes for students in underperforming schools. She feels fortunate to have been a member of several school teams working to improve student achievement and well-being for over fifteen years as a classroom teacher, special education resource teacher, literacy teacher mentor, and administrator.
Teresa Cariglia-Bull is a vice principal of York Region District School Board in Ontario, Canada. Her passion for cultivating optimal learning environments for students has been inspired by her experience as a Performance Plus teacher, special education resource teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, autism spectrum disorder classroom teacher, and homeroom teacher. She is married with two children and loves to play ball hockey, exercise, read, and indoor rock climb.
