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The Teaching Librarian 23.2 25 Scaredy School Teacher's Great Adventure I needed to reflect on the process of promoting inquiry-based instruction this week. The Scaredy Squirrel inspired story below shares my perspective on how we are trying to nudge staff to take steps toward inquiry based learning in my school district. We work with the willing (Mr. Innovative) teachers and try to shine a little light on what is happening in their classes. Word starts to spread and other teachers start to ask questions. by christine Quong Scaredy School Teach er never strays from his tried and true inst ructional strategies. He'd rather stay in his safe and familiar classroom than risk ven turing out into the unknown. The unknow n can be a scary place for a school teacher. There are a few things Scaredy School Teacher is afraid of: • new school initiati ves like Inquiry Based Learning • standardized tests scores dropping • students not succe eding • even more time sp ent planning and asses sing • parents breathing down his neck He sees the advantag es of never leaving the familiar classroom : • more time for me • I can use my plans over again • I know what to do • most of my studen ts will be successful • no parents questio ning my teaching meth ods • safe place He doesn't see the dis advantages of never leaving the familiar cl assroom: • same old lessons • same old activities • same old class Scaredy School Teach er's daily routine: In scaredy school Teac her's classroom, every day is the same. everything is predictable. all is un der control. ➢ • go to school • tell students some stuff • assign some readin g • assign some writin g • give a test • have some lunch • tell students some stuff • assign some readin g • assign some writin g • give a test • dismiss students • get ready repeat it all the next day BUT, let's say, just for example, that his school administrators mandated that all teachers must plan an inquiry based unit this school year. You c an rest assured that this School Teacher is prepared. a few items are include d in scaredy squirrel's emergency kit: • pencil & paper • multiple choice te st • call display • last year's plan boo k Top Secret continued on page 26