Alicia Saccomanno

Building Inquiry Capacity in Social Studies: Small Steps Toward Big Thinking

Engaging with inquiry in the social studies classroom can feel like stepping onto a tightrope—balancing time, standards, and student needs all at once. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to dive headfirst into a full-scale investigation to get students curious and thinking critically. Small, manageable inquiry moments can transform

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When Inquiring Minds Meet: Collaborative Learning for Deeper Engagement

Student engagement is the cornerstone of effective teaching, particularly in inquiry-based classrooms where curiosity and critical thinking take center stage. The principles of inquiry tell us that the more students are invested in exploring big ideas through meaningful conversations, the more authentic their learning experiences become. Successful inquiry thrives on

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I Fell into Inquiry While Reading

“We inherit our history.” It was a phrase I often used to begin my year in the hopes of sparking student agency and making history relevant. But as an early teacher in social studies and ELA, misconceptions about the importance of authentically investigating history filled my brain. I knew I

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