Curious Questions with Erika Barrish

The Sequoia Breeze

Educational best practices increasingly emphasize using questions that ignite curiosity and engage students deeply in the learning process. This inquiry approach goes beyond simply asking what a student wants to learn; it's about sparking genuine interest. When applied effectively, it “hooks” learners by gradually shifting responsibility for the learning process from teacher to student. So how does this work in the homeschool setting?

In this informative podcast, Erika Barrish, a Lake View HST and homeschool parent, guides you through crafting quality questions that inspire thinking and exploration in your kids—and even yourself. You’ll discover that with the right questions, there’s no limit to creative learning.

Notes:

What is Inquiry?

• Social Studies: InquirED.org Blog post on Inquiry
• Science: Description of the 5 Steps of Inquiry from The Wonder of Science

Some Good Resources for Building Inquiries in Social Studies and Science

• National Archives Educator Resources: Register for a free account to utilize DocsTeach for primary source documents organized by topic.
• Library of Congress: Primary Source Sets under Teachers: Classroom Resources.
• The Wonder of Science: has a great bank of Phenomena and resources to support Inquiry in the sciences.
• Smithsonian Science Education Center: Navigate to Free Resources under the Curriculum menu.

Some Resources for Teaching Strategies to Support Inquiry:

• The Right Question Institute
• Thinking Routines Toolbox: Project Zero from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Learning By Inquiry