What You Should Know About Inquiry Before Getting Started

A second step towards inquiry. 

In my past newsletter I shared one of my most revisited moves as an inquiry teacher, provocations. I spend a lot of time coaching inquiry leaders, co planning with teachers on my campus and engaging in rich and meaningful professional learning sessions with schools around this concept. There is a depth and complexity to this "inquiry move" that's uncovered throughout the different stages of the inquiry process and one that's quite bonded to cultivating curiosity amongst our learners. 

If you haven't reflected on the questions I shared in my last post or given a few of the suggestions offered a try, I encourage you to revisit the writing and challenge yourself to implement and reflect on at least one provocation before giving this next practice a try. Grab some evidence to share with your favorite critical thought partner or friend to share your experience & reflect on your learning with them!

This week I'm sharing a superpower that provides a tangible structure to feel more comfortable with the ambiguity of inquiry. 

Questions.

It's no wonder that Leading with a Lens of Inquiry is full of reflection questions. It's a skill that embodies an inquiry mindset and gives me space to truly be more mindful and present with what's right in front of me. 

And while asking questions is not new to the role of a teacher, it's our intention with how we are asking questions and what we are listening for that is the nuance of this skill. During the process of planning with educators, I spend a considerable amount of time planning questions as well. These are as essential to the teaching and learning as the learning experience itself! Asking questions models the type of thinking and language we wish our learners to embody as independent learners and creates spaces for us to be more curious about what our learners are thinking through their sharing with us. 

This week I'm giving you a task and a resource (I promise this quick exercise will lead to some great things in your practice!).

Pay close attention to the next conversation you have with a colleague or lesson with your students. After the session, reflect on the following:

❓ What was the intention of the questions you asked?

❓ What did you notice about the types of questions you ask? 

❓How did you listen to what what being shared instead of preparing what to say next?

❓How did you questions embody a sense of curiosity and wonder?

After you spend some timing pausing and reflecting, grab the Questioning Badge. This is a popular resource that I find myself going back to time and time again to give me the budge I need to slow down, be more present with my learners and further embody the dispositions of an inquiry leader.

Whether you download and print this free resource off to attach this to your staff badge or you select a few of these prompts and jot them down on a sticky note or in your lesson plans, give them a try. Notice how these questions impact your learners, impact your mindset and impact the learning.

What do you notice? What does this make you wonder? And, now what do you now know based off of this experience?

While simple, this move is powerful and empowers both teacher and learner. I have several other posts I've shared on my feed (start with the 5 Questions I Asked Learners This Week) if you need a few most questions in your toolbox. I promise you won't regret stepping outside of your comfort zone and give these a try!

Document your process, invite a trusted colleague to help you reflect and share with our inquiry community your process (don't forget to tag me on IG & Twitter @jess_vanceedu).