All children need the opportunity for play and inquiry. A rich and
joyful early literacy environment in which reading, writing, and talking are
part of play, often become play. We must remember that children, especially
young children, learn through play. Play enhances language and literacy
learning. When your teaching is inquiry-oriented, you enable young children to
learn how to learn, investigate and discover new understandings, and pose
wonderings about the possibilities.
With two kinds of inquiry, information seeking and wondering,
children are immersed in constructive learning that results in an exciting,
meaningful expansion of knowledge that continues through life. Fountas and
Pinnell discuss the inquiry process in depth in their book, Literacy Beginnings.
Try these four simple steps of the inquiry process to guide your
teaching and propel literacy learning:
1. Playful Exploration (Notice, Wonder)
2. Define Questions (Plan for Observing)
3. Find Out (Investigate, Explore)
4. Share Learning (Discuss, Draw Conclusions)