The Inside Outside School
  • About Us
    • The Seven Dimensions
    • Our Mission
    • Our 5 Commitments
    • Meet the Staff
    • Unique Features >
      • CommUnity
      • I.Q. Meeting
      • the Democratic Experience
      • Organic Gardening
      • Animal Husbandry
      • Community Stewardship
      • Our Campus
    • FAQ's
    • Parents say...
  • Academics
    • Year Long Integrated Theme
    • Daily Schedule >
      • Primary Class
      • Intermediate Class
      • Upper Class >
        • Sarah Graham
  • Calendar
  • Admissions
    • Enrollment Process
    • Application Materials
    • Tuition and Fees
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Families
  • Woodland Faire

KWL

8/16/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
What do we already Know?  What do we Want to know?  What did we Learn? This famous KWL chart guides my own inquiry adventures.  As I prepare to begin year number two at IOS, I think back to what I already knew about starting a school.  Not much.  What I wanted to know was HUGE.  I took business classes, met and corresponded with other school directors, read a bazillion books, researched for hours and hours on the internet.  And what did I learn?  Again, the answer is HUGE. 
            My process of inquiry learning has been exactly what I want the students to undertake, and the Seven Dimensions of Human Greatness  (Identity, Inquiry, Interaction, Initiative,
Imagination, Intuition and Integrity) are the woven threads of my own journey’s
tapestry.  This summer I received a new thread for my weaving.  At the Lama foundation near Taos, I met Rob and Peg, the people who started Roots and Wings School.  One of our students was moving to Taos and was planning to attend this school and I had heard just a snippet about it from her mother.  I have driven past this school for many years on my way up the mountain
as we drove to Lama for our annual summer pilgrimage.  At dinner one night, my husband met Rob and Peg in the serving line and brought them over to eat with us. 
            The beautiful thread gifted at dinner thais Expeditionary Learning.  One gift it has offered me so far is a stream of books from Amazon from their website’s recommended reading.
The reason I am so excited about EL is that it is offering me more nuts and bolts to help us continue to craft our inquiry based learning curriculum.  One of the most profound sentences that I have read this summer is…inquiry is the curriculum.  This slammed into me as the absolute truth.  It is the truth for me as a lifelong learner, and for our students.  Much of what I uncover as I continue to explore EL is confirmation of what I already know or sense and the valuable “how to” guidance that I am always on the look out for.  
           This summer my own self directed inquiry is about expeditionary learning, goats, chicken coops, portable air conditioners, insulation, fencing, livestock guardian dogs and yurts. 
Next stop, kilns.  What do I know about kilns?  Not much….yet.


2 Comments
btyworks link
8/21/2012 01:05:10 am

I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. Please do keep up the quality writing.

Reply
Sheri
9/11/2012 02:33:46 pm

Thanks so much for sharing your new found interest in EL! I did a little bit of research about this approach to education, and I am interested to see how you guys will utilize EL methods in ways that aren't already in action at IOS. Exciting stuff! BTW, do you guys ever set up informal pow-wows for parents to come and discuss areas of interest?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Authors


    Deborah: I believe children need to have more time in the great outdoors and no time bubbling in answer sheets to prepare for standardized tests. 
     
    Students:  posting happenings and other interesting stuff.  Go IOS Mockingbirds!

    Archives

    November 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    July 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    Cooking
    Creative Arts
    Holidays
    Secondary Students
    Videography

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

CONNECT WITH US

​Via the web
www.insideoutsideschool.org/contact-us.html

EMAIL insideoutsideschool@gmail.com
​
ADDRESS
5530 Killingsworth Lane
Pflugerville, TX  78660
USEFUL RESOURCES
www.altedaustin.org
www.progressiveeducationnetwork.com 


SITE MAP
About us
Academics
Unique Features
Community 
Admissions
Contact Us
Blog
Summer Camps
Parents say..
Student Blog
Technology Philosophy
Campus