“Exploring Teacher Inquiry as a Pedagogical Approach” Justina, Irene, Stephanie

Agenda ENTRANCE SLIP: Think, Pair, Share Learning Intentions “Gardens and Rainstorms” review “I Am A…” Engagement Activity Wrap-up: What did we learn? EXIT SLIP

ENTRANCE SLIP: 1) ”As an educator, what factors do you think would affect a student’s motivation to attend classes?” 2) “As an educator, how could you influence a student to be more engaged/involved with classroom work?”

Learning Intentions To recognize the important points that contribute to building a classroom community. To learn ways to build classroom community through inquiry.

“Gardens and Rainstorms” Review There are many factors that contribute to how a student reacts in that class. Student composition Subject matter Teacher personality Student personality Teaching style Hardships of everyday life. Focus on factors you CAN control. How you interact with students Collaborative atmosphere Tools class meeting, student set consequences, rewards, and flexibility

“Gardens and Rainstorms” Review Pay attention to the environment and atmosphere to gather insight as to how you are doing as a teacher. Empower students to give feedback on classroom expectations fostering a sense ownership and responsibility within the classroom Recognize the uniqueness of each classroom community. Give students a sense of control, but also recognizing the need for teacher guidance Community is powerful, but also fragile if balance is disturbed, everyone feels the consequences. “Teaching is not necessarily the most important part of being a teacher- sometimes UNDERSTANDING is the most important part.”

Engagement Activity For Building Community “I AM A…” Take out a piece a piece of paper and write the following: I am a… Something that could apply to everyone. Something that could apply to the people in the room. Something that would apply to them only.

WRAP- UP: What did we learn? What did Kristine Lewis do to build classroom community? Recognized each class was different from one another Focused on factors she could control Empowered students to give feedback Incorporated students input in the final decision of class room expectations What did our group do to build classroom community? Think, Pair, Share Activity “I AM A…” Engagement Activity “Teaching is not necessarily the most important part of being a teacher- sometimes UNDERSTANDING is the most important part.” –Kristine Lewis

EXIT SLIP After reading the article and discussing in class, how has your perception of motivating and engaging students changed? How important do you believe classroom community to be? How would you build classroom community in your practice?