Inquring Minds Want to Know - Teacher Research
In keeping with our magnet theme of IB PYP and teaching through inquiry, teacher modeling as researchers became something to work on. While we had a caring and kind staff, being "thinkers" and "inquirers" are also a part of our Character Ed and IB Primary Years Programs. The expectation for students to be inquirers and conduct research and share their findings led staff to begin their quest to do the same. Through a partnership with our local university and the National Writing project, a small group of teachers began meeting each month after school to write and share research ideas. Included in this group: The PE teacher who is implementing an action research plan he started in graduate school, the Gifted Ed teacher who is collecting data through online surveys regarding home experiences for gifted students, a 4th grade teacher who is trying new writing strategies in the classroom and will reflect and present those ideas at an upcoming conference, and the curriculum coordinator who initiated the group in an effort to share the school's story about Character Ed and publish articles. With our writing consultant leading our meetings, we keep the momentum of writing, researching, and publishing going and serve as models for students and staff.