Thoughtful Education Inference

1. Thoughtful Education Inference Rockfield Elementary

2. Goal One-Part 1 • The goal for this session is to understand how we currently use inference in our classrooms and prepare to learn the Thoughtful Classroom approach to inference. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

3. In this session you will. . . • Learn why inference strategies are highly effective and examine the goals of inference. • Explore the principles that help ensure effective inference making. • Study a model lesson that uses an inference strategy to help students master content and build their inferential reasoning skills. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

4. Driving Inference • Taking in a set of data (SUV behind me moving erratically). • Making an assumption or hypothesis based on that data (The SUV is going to hit me if I stay in this lane). • Testing your hypothesis (Let’s see what happens if I move to the right lane). • Examining the results to confirm or refute your hypothesis (The SUV didn’t hit me, so it looks like I made the right choice). Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

5. Inference Sampler • How do students need to think in order to do well in these situations? • What do these examples have in common? • What are some situations in which your students need to think inferentially in your classroom? Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

6. What Can Inference Strategies Do For You and Your Students? • Goal #1: Identifying Essential Information • Goal #2: Developing and Testing Hypotheses. • Goal #3: Finding and Evaluating Evidence • Goal #4: Developing Powerful Explanations and Interpretations Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

7. 4 Research-Based Strategies to Develop Students’ Inferential Skills • Inductive Learning • Mystery • Investigation • Inquiry Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

8. Inductive Learning • Students draw inferences by grouping data and labeling the groups with descriptive titles. Students generate hypotheses based on their groupings and then collect evidence to support or refute these hypotheses. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

9. Mystery • Students are presented with a puzzling question and a set of clues containing data that can help them develop a logical answer to the question. After examining the clues, students generate hypotheses and then use the clues to evaluate the soundness of their hypotheses. Students revise their hypotheses as necessary before developing a final answer to the question. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

10. Investigation • Students are presented with a question, statement, or open-ended math problem. Students generate tentative hypotheses or solutions. They then conduct research or experiment with a variety of problem-solving approaches. Students build a case that tells why their explanation or solution is the best or most valid one. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

11. Inquiry • Students are presented with a puzzling scenario or event. Students ask “yes” or “no” questions about the event and then use the information that they collect to make inferences and draw conclusions. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

12. Mystery Lesson-Jamestown • Read Clea’s “Mystery of Olde Virginia’s Vanishing Population.” • What specific skills were evident in this student sample? • Why do you think some students encounter difficulties or develop bad habits that lead them to frequently flounder when asked to think inferentially? Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

13. Curiosity is a Drive Thought Takes Shape Be Reasonable Let Them Be Reasonable Look Back to Move Forward Identify Note Patterns or Relationships Find Evidence Explain Reflect 5 Principles and 5 Phases of TE Inference Lesson Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

14. A Sample Inductive Learning Lesson • Phase I-Identify the Problem, Strategy, and Information Sources • Phase II-Note Patterns and Relationships • Phase III-Find Evidence • Phase IV-Explain Your Reasoning and Evidence • Phase V-Reflect Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

15. Thoughtwork • How did Jason’s lesson work to support his students’ abilities to think inferentially? • Looking over the lesson, how might you adapt or refine it to make it stronger? • Inductive Learning is one of four new strategies that support and develop students’ skills in inference. Where might you use Inductive Learining in your own classroom? Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

16. Planning a Lesson • Learn 3 more inference strategies • Learn from sample lessons designed by other teachers. • Plan a complete inference lesson using the content you have brought with you. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

17. Jigsaw • Patti/Lori-Mystery • Dee Anna-Inquiry • Jennifer-Investigation Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

18. Planning an Inference Lesson • Look at your blue “Planning a Lesson” Portfolio sheet. • Read over steps 1-5 • Scan each of the sample lessons-Inductive, Mystery, Investigation, and Inquiry. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

19. Planning Form • Sample Planning Form Elementary Language Arts • Blank Planning Form-p. 45 Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

20. Work Session • Using the content you brought, plan an Inference Lesson. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

21. Share Lesson • Make copies for everyone • Review • Reflect Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com