#CTInquiry





#CTInquiry stands for Connected through inquiry: A curious community of learners.  If you are interested in participating in this free network, it will be an opportunity to visit different classrooms and exchange ideas with educators across Ontario.  It is my hope that together we will inspire and guide our inquiry work from Kindergarten and beyond!



There is also a community that has formed via Instagram with the #CTInquiry hashtag that shares their inquiry work, as it unfolds.  You are welcome to use the hashtag and connect with us throughout the remainder of the school year and into the next.  Every two weeks we provide a prompt with a Reggio Emilia inspired challenge. @ctinquiry







Feel free to scroll through and see how CTInquiry first started!!!



Download complete flyer


CTI: A creative invitation


CTI Session 1: Thursday, October 17th, 2013
Please read the invitation here.


CTI Session 2: Thursday, November 21st, 2013
Please read the information here.


Book Study Decision for CTInquiry: 
Authentic Childhood: Experiencing Reggio Emilia 
in the Classroom (Susan Fraser)



CTI Session 3: Thursday, January 16th, 2014
Agenda and Guiding Questions
Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lorna Jackson P.S.
589 Napa Valley Ave. Vaughn, Ontario
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 1 of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry sparks (can bring documentation or share a story)


CTI Session 4: Thursday, February 20th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Acorn School
1061 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 2 of Authentic Childhood and share some of the questions that you have pursued once you found an inquiry spark (can bring documentation or share a story)


CTI Session 5: Thursday, March 20th, 2014*

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. TBD
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 3 of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story)

*Please note that this session has switched to Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 
at Bond Lake Public School
You are all invited to come and see the Kindergarten classrooms at Bond Lake P.S. on Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 at 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Print the complete flyer by clicking here.

We hope to see you there!


CTI Session 6: Thursday, April 10th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Acorn School
1061 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 4 of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story)
***Please note that this session is a week early due to Easter.



CTI Session 7: Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wendat Village P.S.
99 Reeves Way Blvd., Whitchurch-Stoufville, Ontario
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 5 of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).



CTI Session 8: Thursday, June 19th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Richland Academy
11570 Yonge St., Richmond Hill, Ontario
Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*This will be a celebration of our year's learning! You are more than welcome to bring your documentation from an inquiry that you are particularly proud of to share.



CTI Session 9: Thursday, August 21st, 2014

- cancelled -


CTI Session 10: Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Moraine Hills P.S.
85 Rollinghill Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4C7
*Read Chapter 5 (again! -to refresh our memory on the learning environment) of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).  You may want to share images of your classroom environment! 




CTI Session 11: Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
*Read Chapter 6 of Authentic Childhood and share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).




CTI Session 12: Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Carrville Mills P.S.
270 Apple Blossom Drive, Thornhill, ON L4J 8W5
*Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).

CTI Session 13: Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).



CTI Session 14: Wednesday, January 21st, 2015

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thornhill Woods Public School
341 Thornhill Woods Drive, Vaughn, ON 
*Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).

CTI Session 15: Wednesday, February 18th, 2015

Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry


Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you share (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).

MARCH 25th Session Cancelled !!!

CTI Session 16: Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. Anne Frank Public School
431 Ilan Ramon Blvd, Maple, ON 
*Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).

CTI Session 17: Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry


Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you share (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).

CTI Session 18: Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Face-to-Face 6:30-8:30 p.m. TBD -Social-
*Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).





Download the flyer in pdf here.

Thank you for your continued interest in participating in Connected through inquiry: A curious community of learners!



Image from Lana O'Reilly's classroom at Pape Avenue P.S. (TDSB)


CTI Session 1: Wednesday, March 30th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Location - Pape Avenue P.S. (TDSB)
220 Langley Ave., Toronto, ON, M4K 3H9

Read: Your image of the child: Where teaching begins by Loris Malaguzzi (print pdf here)


Join us for our first session to discuss how we might like to run our face-to-face community and to visit an inspiring classroom!  

All you need to bring is yourself!




Image from Maureen Cicinelli's classroom at St. Cecilia Catholic Elementary School. (YCDSB)


CTI Session 2: Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. St. Cecilia Catholic School (YCDSB)
300 Peter Rupert Ave., Maple, ON, L6A 4P3

Read: From Policing to participation: Overturning the rules and creating amiable classrooms by Carol Anne Wien (print pdf here)


Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).




Image from Anamaria Ralph's classroom at Maurice Cody P.S. (TDSB)


CTI Session 3: Wednesday, May 18th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. Maurice Cody P.S. (TDSB)
364 Belsize Dr., Toronto, ON, M4S 1N2

Read: Natural Curiosity, The Early Years: Carol's Story Focus of Inquiry Trees, Plants, Roots Starting the Environmental Inquiry Process pg. 63-73 (link is for entire downloadable book - we are only reading a small section)


Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).



Image from Trista Dutt's classroom at Moraine Hills P.S. (YRDSB)


CTI Session 4: Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. Moraine Hills P.S. (YRDSB)
85 Rollinghill Rd, Richmond Hill, ON, L4E 4C7

Read: Reggio Emilia as cultural activity theory in practice by Rebecca S. New (print pdf here)
Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).






CTI Session 5: Wednesday, July 27th, 2016

Face-to-face: 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Location: North Thornhill Community Centre Art Studio
300 Pleasant Ridge Ave., Thornhill

*Special social and creative event must RSVP
Details will follow.  Only space for 30 participants!


Share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).





CTI Session 6: Wednesday, August 24th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Location - 2123 McCowan Road, Scarborough ON M1S 3Y6
We will be visiting the Louise Kool & Galt Showroom to prepare our learning environments for September!

*30 people capacity- RSVP required!

Read: Designing the environment to build connection to place by Carol Anne Wien (print pdf here)

Bring with you any of your planning resources to share with other colleagues and have discussions around a strong September start (e.g., timetable, day plans, floor plan, etc.)!  You may also bring images of your classroom and how you hope to transform it.  I am certain that it will be a wonderful opportunity to inspire each other and seek feedback from like-minded colleagues.  Food will be provided, and time will be allotted to visiting and exploring the showroom.  Our discussion will be on the article, and break out groups about planning.  This is not a formal workshop, but rather a chance to network!


How to RSVP: *Not by email this time!

To add your name to the RSVP list for the August 24th planning session please click here.  I have created a waiting list, and could book another session if need be!

The google doc will be taken down after the event, but since it's live now please use your own comfort regarding full name or email address information. I just need to know who is attending, and can get the rest in person!  

If for whatever reason there is a change, I will email the group and post on Instagram/Twitter!




Image from @richlandacademy, private school in Richmond Hill.


CTI Session 7: Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Location: Richland Academy 
11570 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3N7

Read: Aesthetic codes in early childhood classrooms: What art educators can learn from Reggio Emilia by Patricia Tarr (print pdf here)

We will be building on August's discussion on planning and the learning environment.  Try to bring some documentation of how your students have interacted within your carefully created space of possibilities! 

You are also welcome to share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).



Image from Michelle van Heugten's classroom at St. Joseph's P.S. (WECDSB)


CTI Session 8: Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

Online: 9:00-10:00 p.m. via Twitter #CTInquiry
Virtual tour of @creative_explorations classroom in River Canard, Ontario which is close to Windsor. (WECDSB)

*Stay tuned for instructions on how 
we will connect prior to the Twitterchat!

Read: Think, Feel, Act Lessons from Research about Young Children, Ontario Ministry of Education - Making Learning Visible through Pedagogical Documentation pg. 27 (link is for entire downloadable resource - we are only reading one small section)


Share some of your inquiry work online (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you share (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).



CTI Session 9: Wednesday, November 30th, 2016

Face-to-Face 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Location - TBD (participant will sign-up)

*Holiday Potluck Social.  Details to follow.

You are also welcome to share some of your inquiry work (can bring documentation or share a story). We will try to study the pedagogical documentation that you bring (photo, transcription of student talk, work samples from inquiry work).




#CTInquiry will resume again in January with an online chat and our first face-to-face session of 2017 will be in February. Details will be updated on this page, as they become available.


I hope that you don't miss out on this amazing chance to stay connected through inquiry!  Special thank you to the educator teams for opening up their classrooms for us to learn together!





I have no special talents.

I am only passionately curious.


                                                                                       -Albert Einstein 

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@joannebabalis