Departmentalized or Block Classrooms in the Elementary Schools

Inquiry research is when individuals or groups of "professionals seek out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions or 'wonderings', collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others" (Dana, p3). Too often as administrators and teachers we make decisions without all the facts and reading all the necessary research. More importantly we tend to skip the reflection process. Reflecting on what has worked and what has not, as well as seeking opinions from other professionals is an important step in inquiry research.

One dilemma for the past few years has been departmentalized versus self contained classrooms in the elementary schools, mostly for fourth and fifth graders. I know we have gone from self contained classrooms, two way splits, three way splits and back again. As we make these changes are we looking at all the research on what is best for kids plus reflecting on what we know from prior experiences? Are we using the inquiry research method or just making quick decisions on what we think is best? This question is a great example of how action research and a professional learning community could be instrumental in the decision making process.

Blogs are one example of how technology is changing how we communicate. Teachers spend so much time every week in meetings and their time is very limited. Using a blog is one way to utilize a professional learning community in the inquiry research process. Hearing other professional opinions on the subject, as well as your own reflection is invaluable.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.