Thought Bubble Scripts

Thought bubble scripts

These scripts accompany slides 18–22 of session 4.1, Collaborative Team Building. The presenter of the session takes the role of the MCL; Volunteer 1 plays the role of a team teacher, while Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles.

Absence of TrusT Thought bubble script

MCL: Does anyone have any questions about what we need to do?

Volunteer 1: Nope.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: Perfect! [insert name of volunteer], are you able to help lead the data analysis?

Volunteer 1: I suppose I could, but I’m really busy this week, with, um, grading student projects.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: Maybe I can have [insert name of someone in the audience] help you then?

Volunteer 1: I don’t need help. I know how to do it. I’m just really busy this week, and I have the career fair to organize, too.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: “Are you sure? Maybe [insert another name from the audience] could help you with the career fair?

Volunteer 1: No really, I’m fine. I’ll figure out how to get it all done.”

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

FEar of conflict Thought bubble script

MCL: I propose we move forward with offering up one of our team planning days each month for tutoring students who are behind. What do you think?

Volunteer 1: Uh, sure, I suppose.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: Did you have any questions or concerns about this?

Volunteer 1: Uh, no. It’s fine. I can make it work.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: I’d love to hear an alternate idea for helping our students, if you have one.

Volunteer 1: No, really, I think your idea is, um, okay.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: Are you sure? I was really hoping for some input from the team.

Volunteer 1: Whatever you say, you are our team leader.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Lack of commitment Thought bubble script

MCL: Do you think we should try regrouping the students?

Volunteer 1: Maybe?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: You sound uncertain. Let’s talk about it.

Volunteer 1: I suppose it might work. But what do we do if it doesn’t?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: We could certainly switch back to our original student groupings.

Volunteer 1: I guess so. But, might there be something else we could do?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: Sure! What did you have in mind? Let’s talk about it.

Volunteer 1: Well, I don’t know. I’m a new teacher, I don’t know as much as you do.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Avoidance of accountability Thought bubble script

MCL: I thought two weeks ago we agreed we would all change up our shared hallway bulletin board to display great examples of student work?”

Volunteer 1: Oh yeah. I think I remember us talking about that.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: OK. It still has the Back to School Night information for the parents.

Volunteer 1: Does it? I’m sorry, I hadn’t looked.

MCL: Do you think we can get it changed up?

Volunteer 1: I thought [insert name of another participant] was going to take care of it. Maybe check with him/her?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

MCL: It should be a team effort.

Volunteer 1: Ok, I’ll work on it next week.

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Inattention to results Thought bubble script

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Volunteer 1: I think we need more parents to volunteer in our classrooms.

MCL: I think it would be great to have more family involvement. What would the parents do?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Volunteer 1: I could really use a few extra sets of hands to put the toys and books away. The kids make such a mess.

MCL: Is there anything else that the volunteers could help you with?

Volunteer 2 holds up thought bubbles until reaching STOP card.

Volunteer 1: That’s mainly what I need help with. Maybe also to help the kids transition from lunch or recess.

MCL: One of our goals is to increase parent involvement. Do you think that is the best way to use the volunteers?

Volunteer 1: Ooh. How about having them help fundraise for a field trip? It would be great to take the kids to the museum.

MCL: Let’s talk a little bit more about why our goal is increasing parent involvement.

seeOpportunityCulture.org/terms-of-use