Playful Inquiry

In this episode on Playful Inquiry, Jenoge speaks with Angela Vargas, an Early Learning TOSA in the Beaverton School District. In her current position, she partners with kindergarten and first grade teachers to enhance their classrooms toward a more student-centered practice focused on playful inquiry. Angela believes in an asset based approach to education, recognizing the assets of both students and families. 

 

Jenoge and Angela speak about her early learning experience and how a family move defined her as a student. Angela shares how identity, race, and social constructs are woven into the thread of her teaching. She speaks about the roles that students play in the classroom and how students can work together to enhance their own learning. 

 

Angela gives great examples of how to draw out place-based and playful inquiry themes in day-to-day instruction. She also describes how to draw out a student's curiosity to guide lesson planning and instruction. Angela describes how listening to and observing students can help meet student learning needs. Do we always listen to or observe the behaviors of our students? Perhaps her ideas will resonate with you and help you better connect to the needs of your students.

 

Resources: 

Center for Playful Inquiry

Early Childhood Reggio Emilia Approach

Democratic Learning in Classrooms

Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad 

 

OEA Grow is a member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network.