Today we finished our book. The last section focused on applying inquiry to content areas. Our group chose the protocol of "Save the Last Word" and all of us selected quotes from the same paragraph. The paragraph focused on how students see themselves. If they see themselves as a mathematician then they believe they can solve math problems. In some ways it is a self-fulfilling prophecy as if students believe they can be successful then they will be. What are we, as teachers, doing to help our students see themselves are practioners in our field? Are we really providing them with the skills to meet "the textual and disciplinary demands they are faced with as they move through school"? (154). For me, sometimes my answers to these questions are "yes" but not always. A goal for me is to be more reflective in my teaching as well as the language/word choice I use.
This section also brought up the need for a common language. Initially I didn't really see how the QAR strategy would apply to math but Wilhelm demonstrated how the questioning strategy does transfer. I hope to really work on establishing a common language with my students this year. Even if it doesn't happen school-wide, I think it can with my integrated partner.
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