Nan, Tina

What's on top - Reporter Bag; Room 5/6 do this daily ; kids bring something to school sand put in bag, kids have to ask questions to gain information about what the object might be. The kids are getting better at questioning, now starting to extend questioning, they are more aware of the learning intention. Also listening more carefully "already asked that". Next week we will flip it and we will link to speeches; to assess that they can ask questions we will work on describing features. Nan using "Tony Ryan's - "soft talk" ; tried out with students who are not getting on. This is giving students time to work through how to work things out using "self talk" as a strategy to make better decisions and be positive and confident through the day. Jallen using tool to articulate what he needs to do to be on time at school. The students talk to a "buddy" (soft toy) to "self-talk and make good decisions.

Hellen & Georgia & Andrew

Week one and two has seen us looking at the 6 thinking hats. This has been very interesting as it has allowed the kids (and ourselves) to think about not only the information that we take but the processes that we go through to get the info!
We can see that students are beginning to open up and question thoughts and ideas. They are also becoming more independent when researching on the net and with other resources.
E.G. Room 1 looking at the red and white hats to distinguish between facts and feelings.

During reflection at the end of each day students recognise the hats / inquiry teaching part of their day was the highlight of their day or the part they enjoyed the most.

Hi from Ani

It's great to see so many inquiry displays up and around our school, well done staff. It's also great to hear the kids speak about thinking hats; that's pretty quick pick up for the start of the year.

Muritai Inquiry

Here is an example of an inquiry in a class at Muritai School. Our ICT cluster visited this school in August to gain new ideas about inquiry. Note the topic label "The Power of One", the big idea and the big questions. Next term we will explore our first inquiry.

Down memory lane

Back in April we had an introduction to using our NEW interactives and the Inquiry process from Johnny and Bronwyn Ward. Here are the staff, parents and kids on a Saturday morning listening and waiting patiently to have a tutu on the IWBs!

Anaru's thoughts on Inquiry Learning

While i am still unsure with the "Inquiry learning process" it is a process that I am looking froward to with both anxieties and excitement. I do see the great potential in children's thinking and learning that can take place, especially with the great ICT resources we have avaliable to our children here at Foxton Primary School. the shift in power from a more teacher centred to a child centred classroom and learning process is an adventure that will be filled with many bumps and bruises but nevertheless it will, in my opinion, be a journey filled with many intrinsic and intangible rewards for our children.

Thoughts from Tina

Looking forward to Term 4 and trailing our new Inquiry Model. So much to get our heads around but it is exciting to be learning something new along with our students. Thinking Hats are up on the wall, just need to get the associated language flowing in the staffroom and the classroom. We can do it!