2011

OK, it's the end of the first term and here I am. After much staff discussion, I am seeing how blogging could be a great reflection tool as a practictioner, so I am going to have a go, and revivie my blog! I had some great inspiration today from our cluster Kath Murdoch day. I left feeling buzzed, and energised with the thought of where to next with creating my inquiry classroom? It was great to reflect on how far we have come in a year (since our last Kath Murdoch day) in our understanding and teaching of inquiry. It was also somewhat daunting! As I listened to her talk and show examples I had a clear sense of where to next, but there seems so much to do, and I want it all to happen tomorrow! However, after some discussion I left with clear goals to implement now. I will

• revisist Kath's book, and her recommended websites to choose some inquiry tools to explicitly teach, and make part of our class routine. These will become part of our class display.


• Use inquiry language (something I'm already trying to do with the stages of inquiry) and keep talking about how the children are learning to be thinkers (in all curriculum areas)- building learning muscle, let's check our thinking, building the concept of replacing old thinking with new thinking. Awareness of themselves as learners!


• Work on the concept of the 'tool box' and filling the 'compartments'


• Use our learner profile to help create a culture of being a learner- goal setting and reflection, co-constructed understanding of each with the children.


• Work at encouraging the curious nature in our learners!


• Question more, tell less. Involve the children more.

Not much to work on then! I'm excited to contemplate the shift in my classroom practice. I hope the reflection of blogging will help keep the 'buzz' alive, and keep me focussed on what I'm trying to achieve!