My question for inquiry (after revision and reflection) is: as a teacher, how can I create and sustain an inclusive classroom environment that is supportive of all learners so that every student feels empowered and able to engage meaningfully in their learning? Through research, I have found that administrative and institutional attitudes, policies, and resources…
The question that continues to shape my teaching philosophy is: In what ways can students setting their own goals support motivation, engagement, and the development of a student-centered learning environment? This inquiry question was inspired by my interest in fostering student motivation and engagement within a classroom that supports multiple learning styles. My thinking is…
The Montessori approach emphasizes student freedom and independence in the classroom. By following this approach, will it enhance or impede student learning? With my findings in mind, I can confidently say that the Montessori approach doesn’t impede student learning. Four out of my five sources were about studies done on comparing…
British Columbia’s shift to a more competency based curriculum represents a quite ambitious attempt to align education with a progressive philosophy. Rooted in the ideology’s of John Dewey, this model emphasizes student centered learning, critical thinking, and real world applications. On paper, it reflects a meaningful departure from traditional, content driven education that most are…
Since the creation of formal classrooms, the topics and subject matter of what educators teach has been the subject of debate. Today, one of the most hotly debated topics surrounds social justice and its incorporation into the classroom. Parents and guardians have vocalised their concerns surrounding what their children learn during these discussions. But what…
When I initially thought about doing play-based learning (PBL) as a topic for this philosophical inquiry question assignment, I mostly imagined kindergarteners building towers with blocks or playing “house”. I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to be able to fit this kind of topic into the framework of a philosophical inquiry or how…
What actually motivates students to learn? For a long time, I assumed that motivation came from external factors, like grades, rewards, praise, and so on. However, through my philosophical inquiry, I discovered that meaningful student motivation goes much deeper than that. Rather than being driven by a single factor, theory, or approach, student motivation is…
Teaching and learning continues to broaden my mind and how it is forever changing; this solidified my thoughts when examining the teaching philosophy, “By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.” As a future educator who hadn’t always known that this was the career I wanted to pursue, I look back on my…