Inquiry-Based Learning

     Inquiry-based learning is a daily part of the Kindergarten classroom environment. Inquiry-based learning at this grade level often works hand-in-hand with play-based learning, due to the fact that as students are playing they often begin to ask inquiring questions about how things happen and why which can then led them to further investigate. Inquiry-based learning can also be encouraged through provocations placed strategically around the room in order for students to explore and investigate essential math concepts. This can then led to whole class inquiries in math, small group inquiry, or independent inquiries by students. These inquiries may occur only during one particular day, or they may even extend for weeks, and lead into additional types of learning of different math concepts and ideas.

Tiut, P. 2017

     In order for inquiry-based learning to prevail in a Kindergarten classroom, especially surrounding the topic of mathematics, there must exist an inviting community that exemplifies an inclusive environment where all students feel respected and where they know that their ideas are valued by all. In this way, students will then feel that they can share information with each other, as well as the class as a whole. By creating a community of learners, students will also feel more comfortable in exploring concepts of mathematics as well, which is what inquiry learning is all about.

    Teachers can co-create expectations with their students and then display them visually throughout the room. Students will then be invited to explore and reference back to these visuals during small or large group discussions. An additional way in which to create a safe environment that encourages students to express their math ideas includes encouraging all students to ask questions, by guiding their learning and asking probing questions as the educator in the room.

The Curious Kindergarten. 2015. 3D Shape Challenge. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://thecuriouskindergarten.wordpress.com/category/mathematics-2/.

    

    A learning community where students respect and listen to everyone’s opinions can then lead to math talk throughout the day, and conversations will then occur where math has been found to be a part of understanding multiple subject matters (such as science). By creating an inquiry-based learning environment, students are allowed to make real-world connections to mathematical which allows them to better understand the majority of concepts and also allows them to feel more motivated to learn as real-world contexts often spark curiosity and engagement among students.  

     By taking all the elements that make a successful mathematics classroom environment into account, (including the arrangement of the classroom, providing students with manipulatives, supporting learning with technology, the use of various mathematics learning centres, and knowing the role of the teacher in the classroom), teachers can create an atmosphere that promotes inquiry-based learning of mathematics.

The Curious Kindergarten. 2014. See, Think, Wonder: Developing Thinking Routines in the Classroom. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://thecuriouskindergarten.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/see-think-wonder-developing-thinking-routines-in-the-classroom/.