Moonstruck Instruction

Two years ago, the teachers at Moonstruck Elementary and I  decided to change our instructional format from "sit and get" to an inquiry-based curriculum. We recognized the need to prepare our students for becoming productive citizens and listened to the feedback from our middle and high school staff about how reliant the students were on the teachers to solve problems and find information.

We now begin new concepts with some direct instruction to insure all of the students speak the language of standardized tests. The students are then divided into differentiated groups and given problems that their group can collaboratively solve. The teachers rarely answer questions, choosing instead to answer an inquiry with a probing question.

All of the students are given the same summative tests at the end of each unit to ensure we have met the state's identified goal for 100% of our students. The students are given formative assessments throughout the process to help the teachers better facilitate the learning within the classroom.

Another practice we began this year has some of the fifth graders assessing the learning in other's classrooms. This is an effort to get our students more involved in the school and allows our teachers to tap into the resources of its clientele. Many of the teachers have been receptive to the feedback from the students, while some have chosen to not participate. I respect those wishes and hope that the successful use of the information from the participating teachers will cause all of my staff to partake in this exercise.