ABSTRACT
Narrative inquiry can deepen and widen the understanding of how to conceptualize the language and literacy philosophies, curriculum, and instructional practices, and do so within the cultural traditions and talents of educators, students, and families. This chapter discusses several key elements for successfully incorporating narrative inquiry into language and literacy teaching. The National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo (https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/), offers students a chance to write their own novels over the course of November each year. The chapter describes and discusses extended examples of narrative inquiry in preschool, transitional kindergarten, and fifth grade and examines key elements of children's language and literacy learning. The chapter presents theory and practical examples that offer food for thought about how to meet the challenge. The narrative inquiry has the potential for sharpening the observational lenses, tightening the documentation strategies, and deepening the reflection and analysis of student learning and instructional practices.
