When a unit doesn't go so well...

In over 10 years of teaching through inquiry in PYP schools and at my current school in a team of inquiry trained teachers, I have never had such a lack of questions/wonderings....

I am asking myself...

• Is it because we have so many other things we need to do at the start of the year and the inquiry took second place which meant there was not quality time?
• Is it because we have so few suitable resources?
• Is it because my class is low on inquiry skills because this is so new to them?
• Is it because I am expecting too much?
• Is it because I have not scaffolded enough?
• Is it because we allocated 3 weeks and it's not long enough?
• Is it because the unit has too difficult a concept?
• Is it because half my team is at another campus and we last met to discuss and plan this unit last April?
• Is it because changes cannot be made with out both campus teams deciding together so we end up not discussing them because it's too hard?
• Is it because I still feel a bit fuzzy through lack of in depth planning meetings?
• Is it because that April planning meeting had too many people? And some people weren't actually teaching the unit?
• Is it because in my heart of hearts I suspected almost all of these problems would emerge and I am feeling frustrated with myself that I did not speak up more at the planning stage.... didn't like to put a damper on the excitement.... And what does that say about our large cross-campus team and the essential agreements of being clear, honest, speaking your mind, etc., etc.................)

I am asking myself these questions as I reflect on how things are going with 1 day to go. I will also be taking my questions to my next team meeting (just our campus). From chats in staffroom or in corridor, I know I am not alone in feeling that the unit has not gone as well as we'd liked.

The next unit is waiting in the wings. I know from 4 years of this study that it will be engaging and challenging and all the things a UOI should be.

I wish I felt better about this new unit...... I hope that we will make the time necessary to talk about what worked and what didn't and what to recommend for next year while it is all still fresh!