Why Investigations?

So much of teaching (at least in my experience in independent school classrooms) is about making hard decisions. There are countless things we could learn/do each day and an increasingly long list of innovative (or even more traditional) ways of teaching them. In order to stay on track I find myself constantly asking - What do my students really need, and given what I know about them (and the world in which they live) what is the very BEST use of their time at school?

Sound and Instrument Investigation

It all started with a visit from the 7th/8th orchestra.  One morning they decided to practice in the first grade commons area and invited Lower School classes to watch. My kindergartners sat mesmerized as they watched the big kids play.  I could tell right away that music was an interest that spoke to many of them, and my suspicions were confirmed the very next day when I noticed several kiddos making paper instruments during choice time.  Since we were deep in the midst of our Lower-Middle-Upper school investigation, I filed the idea away for a few weeks...

Until one morning my daughter was headed to middle school with her violin in hand. The kindegartners gathered around as she opened up her case and revealed (and played for them too, of course) what was inside.