Thoughtful Education Inference

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Thoughtful Education Inference

• Rockfield Elementary

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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.

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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.

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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 (Lets see what happens
  if I move to the right lane).
• Examining the results to confirm or refute your
  hypothesis (The SUV didnt hit me, so it looks
  like I made the right choice).

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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?

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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

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4 Research-Based Strategies to Develop Students
Inferential Skills

• Inductive Learning
• Mystery
• Investigation
• Inquiry

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mystery Lesson-Jamestown

• Read Cleas Mystery of Olde Virginias 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?

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5 Principles and 5 Phases of TE Inference Lesson

1. Curiosity is a Drive
2. Thought Takes Shape
3. Be Reasonable
4. Let Them Be Reasonable
5. Look Back to Move Forward

1. Identify
2. Note Patterns or Relationships
3. Find Evidence
4. Explain
5. Reflect

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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

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Thoughtwork

• How did Jasons 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?

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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.

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Jigsaw

• Patti/Lori-Mystery
• Dee Anna-Inquiry
• Jennifer-Investigation

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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.

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Planning Form

• Sample Planning Form Elementary Language Arts
• Blank Planning Form-p. 45

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Work Session

• Using the content you brought, plan an Inference
  Lesson.

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Share Lesson

• Make copies for everyone
• Review
• Reflect