Background

=Pathfinder: Ways to Promoting Student Inquiry Through The School Library= Discovery through this pathfinder will assist preliminary research for teachers and teacher -librarians on how they may promote Student Personal Inquiry.

Kathie is an elementary teacher whose passion it is to support student learning facilitating their new discoveries. She provides students an opportunity to explore their interests, allowing the time for curiosity to lead to new learning at the same time using the essential outcomes from the Alberta Program of Studies to guide her planning.
 * Background Information**

The practice of a constructivist classroom has continued to be in part, the motivation for her to continue to promote individual student personal inquiries. The processes that are challenged as children are engaged in a constructivist classroom provides a wealth of valuable thinking and learning for students. Students make a personal inquiry into areas of study that matter to them. They are engaged and open for learning that is authentic.

The fun of celebrating new discoveries has led her students to culminate their personal inquiries by co-constructing a classroom museum. The class work with local partnerships such as Edmonton City Hall School School and the site based school at the Royal Alberta Museum are examples of partnerships that spur children to further questioning and lead toward deeper personal inquiry. Taking a multidisciplinary approach gives purpose and allows students to make sense of their world.

Working in a team approach, together pooling our resources and expertise for team instruction is valuable support to teaching and learning.

~ Mitchell Caplan
This wiki will be shared with teachers at the August teacher orientation meeting for //Inquiring Minds Site Based School at the Royal Alberta Museum for 2010 - 2011// school year. [|**www.royalalbertamuseum.ca**]