Grade 5: Cathy's Story Our Lady of Fatima School
About Our Lady of Fatima School: Suburban Catholic school located in York Region. Most of the students are of European background, although this is changing with the arrival of new immigrant families to the area.
Cathy had been teaching in the York Catholic District School Board since 1992, beginning as a kindergarten and ELL teacher, and then focusing on the Junior grades. She was keen to introduce Inquiry to her students because she wanted them "to take ownership of their learning and be critical thinkers". She also wanted to better understand the Inquiry approach.
Cathy initially felt nervous and a bit confused about how things would unfold. She worried about reporting timelines, how to engage the students, and whether her class would benefit from this new teaching and learning approach. She admits that she struggled to understand her role as a teacher and the process of "letting go". Likewise, the students found it challenging at first. They were nervous and unsure about how to participate or share their ideas.
By the end of the year, both Cathy and her students had found their way. As Cathy had hoped for, the students took ownership of their learning and she felt more confident about her role in this process.