We speak with Dr. Cynthia Ballenger about her recent book, “Teaching Is Inquiry: Observation and Reflection as the Heart of Practice,” a series of stories from the classroom. We discuss the often overlooked, “life-changing” value of ethnographic approaches for teachers. Dr. Ballenger shares her work with the children she calls “puzzling” and the importance of “stopping time” for reflection.
Overview
00:00-00:58 Intros
00:58-01:45 “Teaching Is Inquiry”
01:45-08:56 Ethnography of education
08:56-11:12 “Every child has something to offer the class.”
11:12-20:45 The “puzzling child”: more stories
20:45-24:10 Cultural and individual differences
24:10-27:43 Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
27:43-30:17 “Stopping time.”
30:17-31:17 Importance of stories
31:17-34:41 Strengthening systemic support; ethical implications
34:41-36:45 Testing culture as anti-democratic and unethical
36:45-38:13 More reflections on OCD
38:13-38:37 Jerome Bruner on negotiating meaning
38:37- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Book “Teaching is Inquiry” by Dr. Cynthia Ballenger
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear