Activities

Activity1UsingtheLadderofInferenceActivityGroupsof23
Useyourknowledgeoftheladderofinferencetodealwiththefollowingscenarios.Before
tryingtosolvetheproblem,noticewhatinferencesyoumightbemaking.
1) Dr.Pratt,aparentofJulie(yourstudent)tellsyouthathisdaughterisntgettingtheright
instruction.Youthinksheisaverageability.Hesaysthatsheisntbeingchallenged
enough.WhatareyourinferencesDr.Pratt?Howwouldyoudealwiththissituation?
2) Youarebotheredbyconsistentnoiseintheclassroomnextdoortoyou,whichinterferes
withyourinstruction.Youreinyourfirstyearofteaching,andsheisarespectedveteran.
WhatareyourinferencesaboutMrs.Jackson.Howwouldyoudealwiththissituation?
3) Aparenthasbeenvolunteeringinyourclassroomforthelastweek.Ononeofthedays,
youhadadisciplineproblemwithastudentnamedCarl.Laterthatsameday,the
principalsendsanotetoyoulettingyouknowthatshewantstohaveameetingwithyou
rightafterschool.Whatmightbeyourinferencesabouttheprincipalandtheparent?Or
Carl?

Activity2Advocacy/InquiryActivityGroupsof45
UsingtheAdvocacy/InquiryPalette,discussoneofthefollowingissues.Halfofyourgroup
shouldtakeoneside,andtheotherhalfshouldtakethetaketheothersideoftheissue.
A. Yourteachersunionisholdingameetingtodecideonameritpayissue.Thedistrict
wantstoapplyforaverysubstantialfederalgrantthatwillinfusethedistrictwithmuch
neededfundstohiremoreteachers,andacquiremoreresources.Oneoftherequirements
ofthegrantbeingawardedisthatteacherpayandjobsecuritymustbeconnectedtosome
extentwithstudentperformancemeasuredbystandardizedtestscores.
B. YourCTwantsyoutodeveloplessonsforalldayeveryday.Youhavealready
completedyourworksample.Youfeelyouhavebeencommittedthroughoutthequarter,
butthereisstillworktobedone,yourportfolio,jobinterviews,graduation,andfamily
matters.
C. Perhapsyouhaveanalternateissuethatcanbediscussedgoaheadanduseitifthe
groupcandivideitselfintoopposingviews.

PROTOCOLSFORMUTUALLEARNING
(UsedinCommunicationWorkshopActivity2)
1.BalanceAdvocacyandInquiry
A) GiveOpinion

HereswhatIthink

B) ProvideRationale

HereshowIgotthere
Icametothisconclusionbecause

C) InviteInquiry

WhatdoyouthinkaboutwhatIjustsaid?
Doyouseeanyflawsinmyreasoning?
Doyouseeitdifferently?
Whatareyourthoughts?

2.ClearlyStateYourIntention
3.TestInferences
A) Identify

Icalledtotalkabout
Idliketodiscuss
Whenyousaid..didyoumean?

B) Illustrate

Iminferring.because

C) InviteInquiry

Isthereanotherexplanationfor?

4.Shiftfrombeingrighttobeingcurious