Themes, Codes, and Examples from the Inquiry Process
Theme |
Codes |
Examples of Statements and |
|
|
Actions from the Data Sources |
Equitable, playful structures support educator participation.
Equitable participation
› Participation on the Jamboard( a digital whiteboard app) was active. All members contributed ideas during small-group brainstorming and then added to the Jamboard while brainstorming ideas for the Nature All Around Us Exploration( Educator Working Group, February 7, 2023).
› The Ladder of Feedback protocol led to all group members contributing appreciations, concerns, and suggestions on the Our Bodies Exploration Overview( Critical Friends Working Group, March 28, 2023).
Whole-group discussion in circle order
› All group members contributed ideas during whole-group conversation. We used circle order facilitation, in which each member took a turn to speak or chose to pass( Critical Friends Working Group, June 13, 2023).
Deep, sustained iteration ensures all voices are heard.
Brainstorming; revisiting goals over time
› There was a shared desire to design a curriculum that was“ not watered-down preschool” for toddlers( Educator Working Group kickoff).
› A group member shared,“ Teachers can flexibly choose between Big Ideas and learning experiences within each Exploration”( Educator Working Group, September 6, 2022).
Reflection; revisiting puzzles over time
› There was discussion about guiding documents around how to choose what to do and where to go based on children’ s interests and the curriculum( Educator Working Group, October 4, 2022).
Iteration; nonjudgmental revisiting
› A group member shared,“ When someone brings up a conundrum or something that doesn’ t sit right, I appreciate that this is not a judgmental space. We’ ve really listened to each other’ s points of view, reflected, and come back to share. We are really a community with each other”( Educator Working Group, May 16, 2023).
Shared ownership of the written curriculum empowers educators.
Feedback incorporated
› A group member suggested“ changing‘ All About Me’ [ curriculum Exploration title ] to‘ All About Us’ for inclusivity.” This was later evident in the finalized curriculum( Educator Working Group, October 4, 2022).
Ownership
› A group member shared,“[ I ] appreciated the creativity, loved getting to see ideas fed back to us— seeing what we did”( Critical Friends Working Group, June 13, 2023).
Summer 2026 Young Children 67