Drawing Conclusions is huge on our state test, and we'll be focusing on it even more in the next couple of weeks. I said, "Clue, clue, clue conclusion" because you use clues from the story to answer the question you are given with my hand stacking and then hands out, palms up. My kids get that, but I need something to get them to remember to go back to the story to explain their answer in more detail. These are 3rd graders, so sometimes going back to the story is like pulling teeth, however we're getting much better! Any suggestions on explaining answers and using details to explain how you came up with a conclusion!

sglass,

This may help. Chris B. explained the use of giving the answer then asking the students to PROVE it as a way of preparing for exams. Essentially it goes: This is BECAUSE of that. In this case because is similar to the clue you mention leading to the conclusion.

Also, he suggested that both positive and negative be used. Ask the student to prove that A is right and prove that B is wrong.

You could do that with the clues / conclusions. Mix them up so that the students recognize when they do and don't fit. That way you are adding Critical Thinking to the review of the lesson.


As for gestures:

To go back in the story I would use a two hand gesture: one open hand palm up, held in front of the body facing sideways (not pointing toward the front)as if holding an open book. The other hand is held over the first and with the index finger pointing sideways across the body. Do a "reverse" one finger rotation with the pointing finger. The bottom hand represents the book while the rotating top finger/hand represents going back. Together they mean "go back into the story/book".

This gesture is an outgrowth of the "adder" gesture Chris B. teaches in the Critical Thinking podcast with Brain Toys where both index fingers point to each other and roll in a forward roll meaning "add some more".

Combining both gestures you get: "Go back into the book" (one finger reverse roll over open hand); "Give me some more" (two finger/hand forward roll).

I hope this helps.
Jason

Thanks Jason!

We used the because slapper when explaining our reasoning and that helped too because they did go back to the story! I will jot your suggestions down and pull them out of my big back pocket the next time I'm working with drawing conclusions!

By the way, our state testing just wrapped up today, and I think my kiddos did awesome thanks to WBT!

Staci

We start state testing in a few weeks. I know this sounds crazy BUT I'm excited and can't wait. I KNOW my students will do well. We practice power pix daily and they are right-on! WBT has empowered me as a teacher.

Karen

With my 10 year old, I use three thumb movements: One looks like the thumb is flipping through the pages quickly to indicate text support, the next is the thumb pointing to the self indicating prior experience or past knowledge, and the third is a thumb into the universe to indicate exterior support. I also use these in second language teaching: again the flipping through the book thumb symbol to indicate dictionary reference, pointing at self to indicate familiar words or cognates and third to indicate asking a peer or teacher.

For Drawing Conclusion we sing a song I made up...

To draw conclusion, conclusions, conclusions (we extend our arms and pull them back and forth as if we were pulling something close to us)
To draw conclusions we use what we know( point to our brain)
and story details and story details (make a book with our hands)
to draw conclusions we use what we know (point back to our brains)

I made up my own tune so it is hard to explain it through typing! Ha! My kids LOVE songs so I try to make everything into music or something fun!
Hope this can be as useful for you as it was for me!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will put them in my big, back pocket for next year! Today was our last day of school, so I'm getting all of my stuff organized to start off next year! Whole Brain Teaching truly made a difference this year in my classroom! I'm excited about next year too!

kread-

I know exactly what you mean about state testing! I wasn't nearly as anxious about it this year, since I had implemented WBT in my classroom! My kiddos seemed much more confident after testing was over!

Thanks,
Staci