Additional information
by Kimberly L. Mitchell (Author)
"Strategic and deliberate approaches to inquiry have been shown to be extremely helpful to educators who seek to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their students. In this important new book, Kimberly Mitchell provides practical insights and methods for how to incorporate inquiry into their practice. For educators who seek to enhance their effectiveness and make a difference for all of the students they serve, this book will be an invaluable resource and guide."
Pedro A. Noguera, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Education
UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies,
Los Angeles, CA
"Kimberly has translated the latest terminology--pedagogical jargon--into lively language and useful advice that will strike a chord for classroom teachers! She ′gets it.′"
Deborah Meier, Educator & Author
Coalition of Essential Schools
Plenty of resources speak to the benefits of inquiry, the research behind it, and even subject-specific processes to follow. But that's not enough. Implementing inquiry is the tricky part, and involves changing beliefs about the teacher and student roles in the classroom. Most critically, we as teachers must engage in inquiry ourselves to successfully implement it in the classroom.
One part practical guide, one part interactive journal, this book provides the opportunity to do inquiry as you read about it. You'll learn what inquiry-based instruction looks like in practice through five key strategies, all of which can be immediately implemented in any learning environment. This resource offers
- Practical examples of what inquiry looks like in the classroom, and how to do it
- Opportunities for reflection throughout the book, including self-surveys, templates, and tools
- A user-friendly handbook format for quick reference and logical progression through your inquiry journey
- Fifty practical inquiry experiences that can be used individually, with students, or in small groups of teachers
These strategies and experiences will improve your relationships with students and colleagues, reduce your workload by asking more of students, and breathe joyful curiosity back into your classroom. Let's get out of our comfort zones and do inquiry-based teaching in a more practical and powerful way! Are you ready?
Author Biography
Kimberly Mitchell is a writer, workshop leader and speaker passionate about active learning and inquiry-based teaching practices. She teaches at the University of Washington′s College of Education and leads workshops for Inquiry Partners.
Kimberly has spent the last 26 years in a variety of education roles. She was a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leading education strategy grants on the College Ready and Pacific NW teams and served as Director of Partner Engagement for Teach For All in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was Vice Principal at Chief Sealth International HS in Seattle, WA and Elementary Principal at American Community School in Athens, Greece, where she and her team launched the International Baccalaureate PYP program in 1998. Kimberly began her career with Teach for America in 1991 as a corps member in Compton, CA. After TFA, she continued teaching in Compton, Colegio Americano in Quito, Ecuador and East Los Angeles. Kimberly is the past chair of the International Baccalaureate Americas Regional Council and currently co-chairs the Ambassadors Board at the University of Washington College of Education. Kimberly holds a BA from Skidmore College (History and Philosophy) and a MA from Stanford University (Administration and Policy Analysis). klasher@mac.com
