C2 (Challenge): Defining our Focus in Inquiry - a podcast by Lu Gerlach

In our last episode, we spoke about how to find our focus as teachers, especially when we encounter uncertain times.  One of the things that centers me is the Golden CIrcle by Simon Sinek. As we look towards making our WHY happen in our teaching, what are some practical things we can implement now to see a difference? 

One of the best tools I created while still in the classroom revolves around the terms: engaging, challenging, relevant, and significant.  The PYP refers to these terms when thinking about inquiry and developing inquiry-based lessons.  

Like most teachers, I thought of them as isolated terms until one day my students asked to assess my lessons.  At the time, I thought this was a bit cheeky for my students to ask to assess my brilliance, but these terms came to my mind instantly.  Here is a brief definition: 

Engaging

• To engage is more than having fun, it awakens the mind to think and connect

Challenging

• To challenge is confronting misconceptions and stretching ideas to a place of discomfort

Relevant 

• To find relevance is reflecting on prior and current experiences and delving into their implications

Significant

• To find significance is bridging issues from our local experience and finding the commonality of the human experience around the world

For a written blog post and other resources, visit:   https://thinkchat2020.weebly.com/

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