Size of Problem 1
Your marker ran out of ink.
Small. You can fix yourself by getting a new marker and throwing the old one away.
You spilt your chips and yell out- "I AM SO MAD! MY CHIPS ARE RUINED!"
Big reaction to a small problem.
Bonus: How could you react differently?
Problems you can fix yourself quickly and easily
SMALL/rain problems
You are throwing up in class.
BIG PROBLEM
Bonus: What will you need to do?
You slipped in the field and got mud on your pants. You start crying hysterically and demand someone call your parent so you can go home.
BIG reaction to a medium problem.
Bonus: How can it be a medium problem?
Food caught on fire in the microwave.
BIG. You will need to call for help.
You cut your hand cutting your art project and it needs stitches. You put a paper towel on it and keep cutting.
SMALL reaction to a big problem.
Bonus: What should you do?
Problems are not emergencies where you may need help
MEDIUM/ thunder problems
You see a bee outside at recess, you are not allergic.
SMALL problem.
Bonus: How can you keep this problem small?
Your friend was not in school for one week. When they return to school, you ask if anything is wrong. You stay calm.
SMALL reaction to a SMALL problem
Bonus: What would make this problem bigger?
There is no more soap in the bathroom at school.
Medium- You need to ask for help.
Your shoe comes untied. You bend down and fix it- then move on with your day.
SMALL reaction to a small problem
Bonus: What would make this problem bigger?
Problems are emergencies where you need help and cannot fix yourself
BIG/tornado problems
You open your snack and see that you have an apple and you wanted chocolate chip cookies.
SMALL problem
Bonus: Why is this small? How can you fix this yourself?
You are at restaurant and you ordered chicken nuggets and they gave you a hamburger. You throw the hamburger at the employee and yell "YOU'RE FIRED!"
BIG reaction to a small problem
Bonus: How could you fix this?
You lost your backpack, you looked and cannot find it.
Medium. You will need to ask a teacher if they saw it.
You fall out of your chair at lunch trying to pick up your fallen napkin, but you are not injured. You start rolling all over the floor yelling.
BIG reaction to a small problem.
Bonus: How can you react differently?
You were feeling really excited about art class, but it was cancelled today.
SMALL Problem
Bonus: What can you do about it?
You are throwing a baseball in school. It hits the smartboard and breaks it, no one sees. You walk away and don't tell anyone.
SMALL reaction to a medium problem.
Bonus: What should you do?
You got fell off the monkey bars and hurt your arm.
BIG- You will need to tell your teacher and go to the nurse.
Your pencil breaks. You ask a friend to get up and sharpen it for you.
MEDIUM reaction to a small problem.
Bonus: Did you need to ask for help?
You missed a question on your test and your teacher told you to fix it.
SMALL Problem
Bonus: Why is it small? Is feedback bad?
You missed your bus to school. You tell your parent that you need a ride, call school and let them know and arrive a little late.
Medium reaction to a medium problem.