The core of the ELA learning experience breaks down into two hemispheres: improving communicative skills and exploring the world around us. These two inextricable realities can be occurring at the same time, and should be. We explore our environment and we communicate our thoughts on what we see – what conclusions we’ve drawn from our observations. The DNA of this whole experience is inquiry. Without that, the system won’t work. So I start with that. Constructing the wire frame of a lesson or unit is best done in community. I’ve done it on my own and I’ve done it with […]