Changing My Approach-Exciting and Rewarding

Changing educational approaches to something as tried and true as the classroom novel can be a daunting and potentially frightening task. However, coming to the end of a novel unit that turned my usual practice on its head, I can honestly say that changing an approach is exciting and rewarding. 


I used a student-voice centered, inquiry based, collaborative approach to teach the novel To Kill a Mockingbird to grade 10 academic English classes. The students were very excited to discuss the aspects of the novel that excited and intrigued them. 

“(Before this experience I would have said that,) I usually just like to read a book - I don’t like classroom novels because all the questions make it boring and less exciting to read.

(This time,) getting to really think about To Kill a Mockingbird and discuss what I found interesting and shocking and exciting was really cool. I really enjoyed studying this way and I feel like I understand everything well. “ - Grade 10 Academic Student





Learning was exciting and the classroom environment was organic. Small group, large group, student blogs and google classroom were some of the learning environments and partnerships used. 

Despite my reservations, I was able to cover all pertinent curriculum and did so in a way that was more rewording and meaningful for the students and myself. 

Inquiry learning in the high school English classroom is definitely worth the time. 


Thank you to guest blogger, SCCDSB Secondary English teacher from Sarnia, ON, Natalie Gouveia, who can be found on twitter @thebard18