Children's Inquiry: Using Language to Make Sense of the World

by Judith Wells Lindfors

This fascinating exploration of children’s inquiry —what it is, how it develops, and how it contributes to children’s learning—will help teacher educators and elementary teachers to understand, appreciate, and foster children’s inquiry in classrooms. In this volume, Lindfors introduces a theoretical framework for understanding children’s inquiry language—not as linguistic forms (questions), but as communication acts in which the child brings another into the act of sense-making. By closely examining these “inquiry acts,” the author uncovers new possibilities for our understanding of how children learn and how teachers can foster their learning in classrooms. The text features a wide range of voices and writings, including transcripts from homes and classrooms, class exercises, research findings, classroom episodes, and the author’s own reflections. “Teachers and researchers interested in deepening and enriching their understanding of how children learn through language will be richly rewarded by joining Judith Lindfors’ exploration of children’s inquiry.”
John S. Mayher , Professor, New York University
“How wonderful to have another Lindfors book to help us think more deeply and seriously about children, language, and inquiry.”
Yetta M. Goodman , The University of Arizona

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It actually allowed for a good discussion in the book group, but is a very dry book. Most of us agreed it was a book to 'dip' in and out of when needed.

[Morgan Witter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into how, where, when, and why children ask questions. I'm certainly going to be reading this one again as I get closer to having my own classroom.