WEBVTT 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:02.300 It's the end of the year and you're looking at half finished 00:00:02.300 --> 00:00:06.889 workbooks and worksheets that have been filled in shoddily and maybe 00:00:06.889 --> 00:00:10.910 not even fully completed, and you feel as though you've failed. 00:00:11.629 --> 00:00:15.649 The real issue isn't what you didn't complete, it's that 00:00:15.649 --> 00:00:17.720 you're measuring the wrong thing. 00:00:18.649 --> 00:00:20.270 Curriculum completion. 00:00:20.615 --> 00:00:21.695 Feels productive. 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:27.380 It's often just means rushing through without real understanding. 00:00:27.889 --> 00:00:32.239 Kids can finish pages without actually learning to think, question 00:00:32.239 --> 00:00:37.099 or apply knowledge, and you end up teaching to a checklist instead of 00:00:37.430 --> 00:00:38.870 teaching the child. 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:43.870 Today we're talking about inquiry-based learning as the 00:00:43.930 --> 00:00:46.660 go-to strategy for deeper learning. 00:00:46.930 --> 00:00:51.550 Now stay with me 'cause I'm going to show you why you should be including it 00:00:51.550 --> 00:00:56.920 in your teaching practice, no matter how old the children are at your teaching. 00:00:57.910 --> 00:01:01.360 Let's first look at the benefits of inquiry-based learning. 00:01:02.110 --> 00:01:04.720 Children develop genuine curiosity. 00:01:05.590 --> 00:01:09.880 That's the foundation of real learning and intelligence. 00:01:10.690 --> 00:01:15.190 They learn to observe question and test their ideas. 00:01:15.910 --> 00:01:19.570 These are the skills that transfer to real life. 00:01:20.350 --> 00:01:23.775 Their understanding deepens because they're constructing 00:01:23.885 --> 00:01:26.135 knowledge, not just consuming it. 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:32.080 And learning sticks because it's connected to real experiences and their 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:35.795 own questions from their experiences. 00:01:38.110 --> 00:01:40.930 Now I know that inquiry scares people. 00:01:41.080 --> 00:01:45.490 They think it means a free for all, and that children don't really learn anything. 00:01:46.030 --> 00:01:50.350 I hear things like, I don't have time to add another thing. 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:52.840 Well, inquiry isn't an add-on. 00:01:53.230 --> 00:01:55.990 It becomes part of your fabric of learning. 00:01:56.320 --> 00:01:59.710 You don't replace your explicit instruction with inquiry. 00:02:00.220 --> 00:02:04.600 These are different strategies that dovetail and complement each other. 00:02:05.820 --> 00:02:08.095 Or I hear I need structure. 00:02:08.155 --> 00:02:09.715 I need to cover the content. 00:02:10.225 --> 00:02:11.755 Well, inquiry is structured. 00:02:11.995 --> 00:02:13.645 You're still guiding the learning. 00:02:13.855 --> 00:02:16.045 You are modeling and you're facilitating. 00:02:16.045 --> 00:02:18.265 Like any good educator will do. 00:02:18.775 --> 00:02:22.435 You just don't leave kids to figure out things for themselves. 00:02:22.915 --> 00:02:26.005 You watch, you ask open-ended questions. 00:02:26.245 --> 00:02:31.555 You help them find answers, and you teach them problem solving strategies. 00:02:32.185 --> 00:02:36.115 These are the skills children need to succeed in life. 00:02:36.745 --> 00:02:40.795 Or maybe you're saying, I don't know enough about science or maths, 00:02:40.795 --> 00:02:43.135 or how to answer their questions. 00:02:43.435 --> 00:02:44.935 Well, you don't need to know everything. 00:02:45.265 --> 00:02:48.475 You are teaching them how to find answers, and with that you will 00:02:48.475 --> 00:02:53.125 learn even more than you know now, or I hear it's so overwhelming. 00:02:53.665 --> 00:02:56.005 Well, it's only overwhelming if you believe it is. 00:02:56.395 --> 00:02:59.365 Inquiry starts with a small single step. 00:02:59.725 --> 00:03:02.545 You don't change everything in one foul swoop. 00:03:03.025 --> 00:03:04.705 That's just asking for failure. 00:03:05.305 --> 00:03:10.585 So allow me to take you on a little tour of how simply and easily you can include 00:03:10.585 --> 00:03:12.775 inquiry in your everyday experiences. 00:03:13.615 --> 00:03:18.835 Let's take something as simple as going on a walk around the block to the park, 00:03:18.865 --> 00:03:23.455 in the park, at the beach, even just around your garden or the playground. 00:03:24.145 --> 00:03:27.055 What most of us do is we rush through it. 00:03:27.055 --> 00:03:28.195 We tell kids, hurry up. 00:03:28.255 --> 00:03:29.935 No, you can't stop for every stick. 00:03:29.935 --> 00:03:31.075 Put that rock down. 00:03:31.255 --> 00:03:33.175 Throw away that feather if it's dirty. 00:03:33.805 --> 00:03:34.885 But inquiry. 00:03:35.005 --> 00:03:38.425 What that looks like is allowing them to collect those 00:03:38.425 --> 00:03:39.985 objects that they're drawn to. 00:03:40.405 --> 00:03:44.395 , And in my free e guide that I'll share with you shortly, I'm gonna show 00:03:44.395 --> 00:03:48.235 you how those little stones become objects for patterning and counting 00:03:48.235 --> 00:03:50.155 and weight comparison and geology. 00:03:50.605 --> 00:03:55.375 How sticks become measurement, balance structures, and engineering, 00:03:56.095 --> 00:04:00.955 how leaves become classifications and observation of seasonal changes. 00:04:02.155 --> 00:04:08.425 This teaches more than a worksheet ever could because the learning is motivated 00:04:08.425 --> 00:04:13.975 by their questions, their finds, not your assignment or your worksheet. 00:04:14.755 --> 00:04:20.095 In my free e guide, I break down exactly how to turn these kinds of 00:04:20.095 --> 00:04:24.745 moments into learning experiences that don't even feel like learning. 00:04:25.385 --> 00:04:30.095 It includes the specific skills the children develop and practical 00:04:30.095 --> 00:04:32.675 ways to extend their thinking. 00:04:33.335 --> 00:04:37.955 It's designed for both classroom and home school educators who want to see 00:04:38.045 --> 00:04:41.285 real growth, not just completed pages. 00:04:41.975 --> 00:04:48.305 This is where inquiry starts, not with overalling everything, but just with 00:04:48.305 --> 00:04:50.645 noticing what's already in front of you. 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:55.330 And as a bonus, I've also included a little workbook that 00:04:55.330 --> 00:04:58.780 accompanies the picture book, I went Walking by Sue Williams. 00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:03.760 It has a literacy activity that children can do after they've come back from their 00:05:03.760 --> 00:05:08.290 walk with all those little objects that they've seen or found or brought back. 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:14.200 So next time you feel behind on the curriculum, stop for a moment 00:05:14.200 --> 00:05:20.740 and ask yourself, has my child or student has their thinking deepened? 00:05:21.295 --> 00:05:23.065 Do they ask better questions? 00:05:23.395 --> 00:05:25.135 Are they making connections? 00:05:25.825 --> 00:05:29.845 That's the only growth that matters, and if you can be totally honest with 00:05:29.845 --> 00:05:35.125 yourself and answer no to any of those questions, then it is time for you 00:05:35.125 --> 00:05:40.855 to include inquiry into your teaching practice, and lucky for you, I have 00:05:40.855 --> 00:05:43.105 resources that can help you do just that. 00:05:43.960 --> 00:05:49.540 First go and download the E guide, how to nurture natural curiosity, and start 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:54.730 by going on a simple walk and putting the suggested experiences into practice. 00:05:54.820 --> 00:05:58.700 And I guarantee you that your children will love it. 00:05:59.785 --> 00:06:05.035 And secondly, go further with my inquiry, 101 guide that will take you 00:06:05.035 --> 00:06:10.105 through the step by step process of implementing inquiry into your teaching. 00:06:10.675 --> 00:06:15.655 I will leave a link in the show notes to both of these guides, how to nurture 00:06:15.655 --> 00:06:18.085 natural curiosity and the 101 guide. 00:06:19.488 --> 00:06:22.188 Now is the perfect time, December. 00:06:22.458 --> 00:06:23.688 Holidays are coming. 00:06:23.988 --> 00:06:25.158 It's the perfect time. 00:06:25.158 --> 00:06:28.158 I know that you've just finished a year and you don't wanna start working 00:06:28.158 --> 00:06:32.448 immediately and start planning, and I'm not saying that you should, but now is 00:06:32.448 --> 00:06:37.818 the perfect time to just start thinking about the changes that you want to make. 00:06:38.328 --> 00:06:44.608 So go there to the show notes, download , the free e guide and Inquiry 1 0 1 guide, 00:06:44.788 --> 00:06:49.438 and start thinking in when you start your planning for the new year and start 00:06:49.438 --> 00:06:53.788 thinking about how you're going to get children to go deeper in their learning. 00:06:54.208 --> 00:06:57.658 These guides are going to help you start simply and easily 00:06:57.708 --> 00:07:03.798 so that you can implement real learning, deeper learning, richer learning, 00:07:03.978 --> 00:07:07.908 not just ticking off curriculum points or filling in worksheets. 00:07:08.148 --> 00:07:10.128 That's not real education. 00:07:10.908 --> 00:07:16.158 Now before I go, I would like to say a very big thank you for listening 00:07:16.218 --> 00:07:21.738 and also ask you that if you like this podcast, please just take a second 00:07:21.738 --> 00:07:25.308 and tap that share button and share it with a friend or a colleague. 00:07:25.428 --> 00:07:30.858 And I'd also love you to leave a review as positive reviews really help to 00:07:30.888 --> 00:07:35.838 push this podcast up the ranks where it stands a better chance of being found. 00:07:36.293 --> 00:07:39.413 These are the only ways that the podcast can grow. 00:07:39.743 --> 00:07:41.423 So thanks again for being here. 00:07:41.423 --> 00:07:45.743 I really appreciate you, and until next time, stay blooming, 00:07:45.743 --> 00:07:47.903 curious, and take care of yourself.