Thinking and Problem Solving

Week 2: Making Connections

The TAPTM System Training Portal

Teachers will connect thinking and problem solving and develop a lesson incorporating both the process and the product.

Objective

AgendaEvaluation Long Range Plan & Thinking Evaluation

Identify Need Refinement Need and Instructional Rubric Obtain New Learning Problem Solving: The Product

Development In your lessons…

Apply (In your classroom)

Compare and contrast with a partner how you planned for your think aloud vs. the outcome of the delivery.

Reflect and Share…How did you implement?

The Rubric  

Thinking 

Over the course of multiple observations, the teacher consistently and thoroughly teaches two types of thinking:

  analytical thinking where students

analyze, compare and contrast, and evaluate and explain information.

practical thinking where students use, apply, and implement what they learn in real-life scenarios.

creative thinking where students create, design, imagine and suppose.

research-based thinking where students explore and review a variety of ideas, models, and solutions to problems.

The teacher sometimes provides opportunities where students: generate a variety of ideas and

alternatives. analyze problems from multiple

perspectives and viewpoints. 

 Problem Solving

 Over the course of multiple observations, the teacher implements activities that teach and reinforce 4 or more of the following problem solving types.

  Abstraction Categorization Drawing Conclusions/Justifying Solution Predicting Outcomes Observing and Experimenting Improving Solutions Identifying Relevant/Irrelevant Information Generating Ideas Creating and Designing       

Thinking =The

Process Problem

Solving = The Product

The Thinking/Problem Solving Link

Research Based ThinkingPS: Categorization

Analytical

then Identify

Relevant/Irrelevant

Information

The Thinking/Problem Solving Link:

If the Type of Thinking is…

the problem solving is…

If (this type of thinking)

then…

(this type of problem solving)

Other Links…

Analytical ThinkPS: Categorizing, Identifying Relevant Info

The Thinking/Problem Solving Link: If the Type of Thinking is…

the problem

solving is…

then

Fairy Tales Pictures of the Stories to Model Practical

thinking Categorizing Characteristics of Main Fairytale

Characters Create a new fairytale character based upon

these characteristics.

The Model

The Thinking/Problem Solving Link: If the Type of Thinking is…

the problem

solving is…

then

Snow White

Cinderella Little Red Riding hood

Cruella de Ville

Captain Hook

Ursula

The New Fairytale Character

Characteristics Based upon the good or

bad characteristics. Generate 4 -6 common

characteristics

The Character Choices:

Could be drawn or written Grouping:

Partner Design a storyline

I do

We doYou do

What are the steps to modeling your thinking (‘think-aloud’)

Modeling Think Aloud

Practicing skill with students- Generating Ideas

Students explain thinking and Creating a new character

Teacher Behaviors that Support ‘Thinking’

MODELING• Emulating others is a basic

way of learning.• Model what you expect. Do

not be a “do as I say, not as I do” educator.

QUESTIONING• Higher-level questioning• Learners must be

presented with problems and questions, the answers to which are not apparent.

STRUCTURING• Clear expectations• Thinking happens throughout

the school day, across content areas, and over extended periods of time.

• Opportunities for interaction• Address all learning styles

RESPONDING• Wait time• Accepting without judgment• Clarify when you don’t understand• Academic Feedback• Empathizing

TASK: Bring back three student samples of the student product.Questions to ask yourself during development time:

When are you going to implement this in your class? What will this problem solving process look like in your class? Specifics:

What questions will you use?How can you build this in your lesson plan?Develop the thinking script and product model.

Development

Objective: Teachers will connect thinking and problem solving and develop a lesson incorporating both the process and the product.

Closure: Share with a non-content partner how you will

implement problem solving into your lessons and classroom this week.

Apply