Inquiry based learning.

As we have moved to this model of teaching at Pender, I would like to help everyone understand what we are doing.  We at Pender Harbour Secondary have changed to a 5 period day and eliminated the bells.  I know crazy right.....
Our day starts with a 15 minute home room.  We get to go over our schedule that day and plan our seminar time.  Then we spend time together talking about events or activities that are important to us that day.  I like to think of it as coffee talk.....
Yes, we have two set classes a week for course content and then seminar time for students to work in groups, alone or with a teacher.  We get to spend class time on concepts and use seminar time for deeper analysis of the content.  So here is how it works in sciences.  We learn concepts in class and apply them in labs or assignments outside of the direct instruction time.  
This teaching style allows students to take unlimited number of classes without conflicts of missing time in set classes.  It also allows teachers to have pull out time during seminars for extra help or greater in depth discussions.

Is it working? Yes I feel like it is.  How do we know this?  
Well, I see things like students reading out loud together and learning the content of the books.  They were discussing conch shells and I the science teacher got to help the English group learn about the shells and where they are from.
I have walked into seminar to see a group of students working on naming compounds and asking the grade 11's for help and not being ignored but helped.

Now comes the fun...  We need to start finding the big thing for each of us.  The students will have down time once and awhile. What can they do?? Well some are learning languages like German and Arabic.  Some are working on Bike trails.  Some are tutoring other grades.  Some are doing work experience.. So what can your child do?  Now is the time to help them think of some projects, areas of study or take up a cause.  We have given out several x block options for students to try to peak their interests. Talk at home and help your child come up with some questions they can try to solve.
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/general-info/our-approach/intro-inquiry-learning/intro-inquiry-learning

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