Consultation - Proximal goal #12

In meeting with my colleague, I had the opportunity to reflect and debrief on my inquiry process while receiving some insight and feedback. Although the implementation process isn't entirely finished yet, we were able to discuss the content of the lessons and the direction of the students learning. 

It was interesting to notice how much trusting my students to be able to direct their own learning has been so rewarding and valuable in this process. We reflected on ways that the inquiry process could go wrong. It really is amazing to allow ourselves to follow the children's curiosity and how it always leads us to expansion of new ideas and skills. We talked about how the learning process is so much more valuable than the content and that as long we are guiding and directing the process, the content should be directed by our learners. 

We discussed some challenges that had come up, like allowing the pressure of time to affect the process. My colleague reassured me of the fact that it's okay to take extra time in one area of learning and that it's important to be flexible with time in this kind of student-led learning. This made me think of the importance of balance between what is being directed by the teacher and what is left to be directed by the students. The teacher needs to be able to guide and direct students without taking control of the process and allowing the students to be able to make their own connections. My colleague shared an experience of his with me where he had spent two weeks on one area that he thought would only take a two days. Especially with young learners, I have come to see that the pressure of time takes away more than it adds to the inquiry process. We have to let go of some control and trust in the process to make the experience the most valuable that it can be.

I got to share my successes and the amazing connections my students made in the different aspects of our unit on birds. This part of my own inquiry process of creating the unit has been really motivating for both the rest of this process and for future unit planning. It's so fulfilling to be able to be recognized and appreciate my progress, knowing that I am making an effort to adapt my teaching to embrace innovative ideas towards inquiry-based, student-led learning. My colleague has been very encouraging along the way, especially since his teaching philosophy embodies similar values.