Problem Return Technique Practice

Problem Return Worksheet
Use this worksheet with Activity 5-B-1 to explore and practice the use of the “Problem
Return Technique.”

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Worksheet contents:

Beginning with a Problem ........................................................................................... 2
Step 1: Deliver Empathy and Ownership Statements................................................... 3
Step 2: Ask an Idea Question........................................................................................ 4
Step 3: Get permission to suggest alternative solutions................................................ 5
Step 4: Give alternatives............................................................................................... 6
Step 5: Analyze alternative........................................................................................... 7
Step 6: Deliver a Response-Ability Statement............................................................. 7
Step 7: Give a brief Power/Victim Lectureburst.......................................................... 8
Step 8: Exit................................................................................................................... 9

Beginning with a Problem:
Name a situation where a student or a group of students have complained about a problem and disowned responsibility for that problem by giving it to you to solve. (Some examples listed in the Key Information are: I forgot my lunch again; My mom didn’t sign the slip; My group partners won’t listen to any of my ideas. I want to join a different group.)	
Student(s) -use
fictional names		

Description of
Issue and Student's Initial statement of the problem

Why are you using this example for the Problem Return Technique?

	

Step 1: Deliver Empathy and Ownership Statements
What are some of the Empathy and Ownership statements you could give to the students in your example?

Empathy/
Ownership
Statement 1

Empathy/
Ownership
Statement 2

Empathy/
Ownership
Statement 3

Step 2: Ask an Idea Question
Write down four possible idea questions here:

Idea Question 1

		

Idea Question 2

		

Idea Question 3

		

Idea Question 4

		

Step 3: Get permission to suggest alternative solutions

Describe how you would get permission to provide solutions to your student(s):

	

Step 4: Give alternatives
Provide alternatives or suggestions for your student(s)’ dilemma:

Alternative 1

		

Alternative 2

		

Alternative 3

		

Alternative 4

		

Step 5: Analyze alternative
No response required for this activity. Review the ways for analyzing alternatives and consider which one you would use with your student(s).

Step 6: Deliver a Response-Ability Statement
Write three examples of Response-Ability Statements that you could use with your student(s) in this situation.

Response-Ability
Statement

		

Response-Ability
Statement

		

Response-Ability
Statement

		

Step 7: Give a brief Power/Victim Lectureburst
After reviewing the information on Step 7 in the interactivity and reading through the examples that are appropriate for you, fill out the steps you would use in the brief Power/Victim Lectureburst that you might use with your student(s) in this situation:

Present the Choice:	

	

Review the Power Stance:	

	

Review the Victim Stance:	

	

Issue a Choice Challenge:	

	

Deliver a Response-Ability Statement:	

	
Step 8: Exit
Your final step is to hand the problem brought to you back to the student. Has your student or students resolved their problem? In this step you would step back and evaluate if this has happened. No response is required here.

Evaluation
If you were able to use this technique:
Please share your impressions. Was the student receptive? What results did you observe after using this technique?

If you are planning to use this technique:
Please share your predictions. Do you think the student will be receptive? What results do you hope to achieve?