Parental Conversation
Academics
Mental Health
Activities
Socializing
100

The best time to bring up something negative (bad grades, or a mistake) is...

When things are calm, not when they are in the middle of something/just walk in the front door.

Or in a therapy session. 

If you can, bring up how you plan on solving the issue (the steps you plan to take) - this is not necessary for all issues, however.  (If relevant: be prepared to apologize, even if it was not 100% your fault.)

Don't forget, they were your age once, they probably can empathize/they want you to tell them before anyone else does. Also, they cant help/defend you if you don't tell them the whole truth. 

100
This is when someone does all their studying the night before the exam which has been scientifically proven to lower your grade. 

Pulling an "All-Nighter"

100

Coping skills: What is the difference between a positive one and a negative one? What is 1 you can do at home and what are 3 you can do at school? 

Positive ones don't make you feel better for only a split second, they don't hurt you or others around you, and they 

Home - reset by yourself with a nap/snack then ask the advice from someone around you.

School - deep breathe, stress ball, take a nap in the nurse's office if allowed

100

What's an easy way to start a conversation with a new person in class?

Compliment them (ask them a follow up question about what you just complimented and then find out things you have in common by talking about yourself - but not too much - keep it a conversation not a monologue). If the thought of doing that makes you nervous, why?

100

What makes you a good friend? 5 things. Don't overthink it - just answer. 

How would your current friends describe you?

What do you want others to think when they think of you / do you behave in that way currently? (Your "best self".)

 

200

How to get closer to your parent?

Tell them things that stress you out. 

Ask them for their advice. 

Joke with them. 

Ask them stories about when they were your age/look for parallels to what you go through today.

Invite them into your hobbies/take an interest in theirs. Choose something from a list of bonding ideas (therapist list or your own).

200

What motivates you to get good grades?

Being able to play sports (grade average requirements), rewards from your parent, award ceremony at the end of the year/honor roll throughout the year, teacher compliments are cool, getting into a cool HS, you like collecting cool facts to tell other people? 

200

This organ pumps oxygen to your muscles as your brain is getting you ready for "fight or flight" mode. 

The Heart

(Take notice when you experience a quick heart rate or when you start to breathe quicker - Cope) 

200

"I want to make new friends/meet others, but I don't know what the first step can be..."

Join a club, start a club, stay after school in after-care things if your school has that - sign up for something where others your age will also be if it is an interest/consider trying something new. Think how you, eventually, only if you want to, can hang with that friend not only at that one setting (movies, mall, etc.)

200

8th grade: a cool thing I will do before its over, a cool thing the school does before its over, how it'll be different than last year (for the better), who are the people that you have in your corner.

IDK, you tell me...

300

How to get your parent to listen to you?

Tell them what you need from them - (One of the three): 

1. Please just listen to me (no advice, just vent)

2. I want advice (I can do the thing on my own)

3. I need you to do something with/for me related to the situation.

Talk confidently, but respectfully. Be aware of your body language as well. Parents love to see that their kid knows how to problem solve. 

300

The difference between skimming a reading, scanning a reading, and actually reading it (book, textbook, reading section of a test, etc.)?

skim - get the general idea, scan - look for keywords/dates (like bolded vocab), read - gather all details you might get asked about. Actually reading things will help you become a better writer BTW. 

300

When you expect the worst case scenario to happen.

Catastrophizing

300

Sportsmanship - tell a story of someone being a sore loser: what can you learn from that person's actions? Tell a story of you being a mature winner: What made that moment so memorable?

You tell me...

300

Your response if someone said to you: "I'll be your friend if you help me cheat on this test" or "I wont be your friend if you don't help me cheat on this test".

Any commonsense response should be fine. Friendship isn't built on owing other.

Think about what new information about their personality you just learned if someone said that to you.

400

If you get grounded / lose a privilege - what's the most mature question (in other words, not complaining) to ask during the conversation? 

"What are the steps that I need to take to earn it back?"

400

What's the point of raising your hand in class? How can it help you?

A less obvious reason can be that you teachers don't really know you all that well/what you need help with. Especially in the beginning of the year. 

"Letters of recommendations"

400

Fact or Myth: Crying, feeling stressed or overwhelmed, getting anxious, these all mean you are weak.

Myth: you are human, emotions are your friends. Listen to them when they happen; they are trying to communicate something to you (don't ignore them, sometimes they grow larger if you do that). 

Take a second to think, and simply ask yourself: "I feel___, so what should I do about it..."

400

Can you be doing something different with your time after school?

With friends or family or by yourself? Is the usual stuff getting boring?

400
Your friends start doing bad things and want you to join them, what's your strategy to get out of the situation?

"No." - that's  a complete sentence sometimes. End of discussion. 

"I like you guys, but I think that's bad/a mistake to do." 

"I'm not getting in trouble with my family over something like that."

What if they call you boring, or a teacher's pet, or chicken - would that matter to you?

500

Stuff to talk about with your parent - What do you usually talk about vs. what you could be talking about.

Your thoughts and hopes for the future (high school and beyond, for example)

A fact they don't know about you


Questions you want to ask

The story of the last thing that made you laugh

Show him a song you like

Watching you play a video game

Ask about his job

Make a plan for the weekend ahead

500

What's a way to respectfully disagree with a teacher that marks off an answer on a test that you know you got correct?

Calmly, one-on-one, be able to prove why you answered how you did.

500

What is the term for how you talk to yourself and how does it relate to self confidence? And, list off 3 statements that you need to start saying to yourself more often. 

Self-Talk - how to talk to yourself (hoe you motivate yourself or dont motivate yourself) can become a good or bad habit / you can start to believe those things about yourself.
500

Middle School/High School is a test of "How good is your organization and time management?" 

What do you already do / what can you start doing?

500

Define a "situational friend" / what are 3 other red flags to look for?

Nice to you one-on-one, roasts you when other kids are around in order to impress others.

Other red flags:

Lies, is only nice to you if you do stuff for them, gets in trouble/has gotten you in trouble, you're calmer/more focused when you're not around them vs. when you're with them.

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