Say What You Mean
True or False
Statement:
If someone should already know why you’re upset, you don’t need to explain it.
** Double Jeopardy**
Answer: False
Teaching point (you can say after):
Mind reading causes most conflicts. Clear beats obvious.
True or False
Statement:
A short reply always means the person is mad at you.
Answer: False
Teaching point:
Short ≠ upset
Could be busy, tired, distracted, or just texting differently than you.
True or False
If someone hurts your feelings, it automatically means they disrespected you.
Answer: False
Teaching point:
Impact ≠ intent
True or False
If something is funny with friends, it will probably be funny in class too.
Answer: False
Teaching point:
Context changes meaning.
True or False
Asking for help makes teachers think you’re lazy.
**Double Points**
Answer: False
Teaching point:
Teachers usually assume the opposite — not asking looks like you don’t care.
Your friend keeps interrupting you while you're talking.
Which is the clearest way to communicate?
A. “Wow okay nevermind I guess.”
B. Stay quiet and stop talking
C. “Can you let me finish my sentence?”
D. “You always do this”
Correct answer: C
Why: Direct + specific + not attacking
You text: “Are you coming?”
They reply: “k”
What can you actually conclude?
A. They’re annoyed
B. They don’t want to talk
C. They’re mad at you
D. Nothing for sure
**Double Points**
Correct answer: D
Point:
Tone doesn’t exist in text — your brain fills gaps.
A teacher doesn’t hear you say “here” during attendance and marks you absent.
A. Accident
B. Conflict/Misunderstanding
C. Disrespect
Correct answer:A
You disagree with a teacher about a grade.
Best timing?
A. During the lesson in front of the class
B. After class or privately
C.As they’re talking to another student
D. Post about it online
Correct answer: B
You don’t understand the assignment.
Best way to say it?
A. “Can you explain the first part again?”
B. “I’m not doing this”
C.“This is confusing”
D. Stay quiet
Correct answer:A
Rewrite this message so it actually communicates the problem:
“Whatever. Do what you want.”
Expected responses (anything similar counts):
“I feel left out — I wanted to go too.”
“I’m annoyed you didn’t ask me.”
“Next time can you include me?”
Teaching point:
Attitude hides the real message.
Read this message:
“Do whatever”
List two possible meanings that are completely different.
Possible answers:
They’re upset and giving attitude
They genuinely don’t care / are flexible
They’re busy and not thinking about it
They trust you to choose
Teaching point:
Same words → different realities
Your friend walks past you at school and doesn’t say hi.
A. Disrespect
B. Conflict/Misunderstanding
C. Accident
**Triple Points**
Best answer: B (could also discuss C depending on context)
Discussion follow-up:
What are 3 other explanations besides “they ignored me”?
Your friend tells an embarrassing story about themselves in a group.
What’s the best response?
A. Add more details to make it funnier
B. Laugh loudly
C. Let them control the joke
D. Tell everyone what happened last week too
Correct answer: C
Skill: Social awareness & protecting people’s dignity
You need more time on an assignment.
Complete the sentence:
“I started the work but I’m stuck on ___. Can I ___?”
Possible responses:
get help
come at lunch
turn it in tomorrow
redo part of it
Teaching point:
Specific requests get better results than excuses.
A teacher says: “You’ve been on your phone a lot lately.”
You feel unfairly called out.
Best response?
A. “Everyone else is on theirs.”
B. “Can you tell me when you’ve noticed it? I didn’t realize.”
C. Ignore them
D. “You just don’t like me.”
Correct answer: B
Skill: Clarifying instead of defending
You send a long message explaining something important.
They reply: “lol”
Best first reaction?
A. Assume they don’t care
B. Send “wow ok”
C. Ask what they mean
D. Stop talking to them
**Double Points**
Correct answer: C
Skill: Clarify before reacting
Someone rolls their eyes while you’re talking during group work.
A. Disrespect
B. Conflict/Misunderstanding
C. Accident
Best answer: A or B
Teaching point:
You don’t react — you clarify first.
Which message is appropriate to send a teacher?
A. “yo what did i miss”
B. “Hey”
C. “What are we doing”
D. “Hi, I was absent today — what work should I make up?”
**Double Points**
Correct answer: D
A friend keeps copying your work.
Best response?
A. “Stop cheating off me”
B. Give wrong answers
C. “I’ll help you understand it but I can’t give you mine”
D. Ignore it and complain later
Correct answer: C
Self Reflection
Think of a recent time you were annoyed at someone but didn’t say why.
What did you actually want them to understand?
Most people don’t ignore needs — they just never hear them clearly.
Think about a time you misread a text.
What did you assume it meant — and what did it actually mean later?
Most texting drama is imagination + speed.
Think of a time you thought someone disrespected you but later realized they didn’t mean it.
What changed your understanding?
Most fights start from guessing motives.
Think about a time you said something that was fine in your head but landed badly.
What made it the wrong moment or audience?
Good communication isn’t just what you say — it’s when and to who.
Think of a situation at school you usually avoid (class, teacher, assignment, person).
What is one sentence you could say instead of avoiding it?
Most problems at school aren’t skill problems — they’re communication problems.