Helpful Self-Talk
This is the name for the quiet voice inside your head that can either cheer you on or make you feel worried.
What is self-talk? (or inner voice)
When you have a growth mindset, you know that this important organ inside your head can actually grow stronger, just like a muscle, when you learn new things.
What is the brain?
Empathy is often described as putting yourself in someone else's pair of these, so you can imagine exactly how they are feeling.
What are shoes?
Advocating for a friend often means using this to speak up loud and clear, and saying "stop" when someone is being unkind.
What is your voice?
These two simple words are usually the first step you take when you realize you have hurt someone's feelings.
What is "I'm sorry"?
Instead of saying "I can't do this math problem," you can use helpful self-talk by adding this three-letter word to the end of the sentence.
What is "yet"? (I can't do this yet)
If someone says, "I am just not good at math," and stops trying, they are showing this type of mindset, which is the opposite of a growth mindset.
What is a fixed mindset?
A great way to show empathy is to do this with your ears and give someone your full attention when they are talking about a problem.
What is listen?
Instead of being a "bystander" who just watches something mean happen, an advocate is called this word because they choose to stand up and help.
What is an upstander?
Making amends means bravely admitting you made a mistake instead of pointing your finger and placing this on someone else.
What is the blame?
Changing the thought "I made a huge mistake" to "I can learn from this" is an example of turning negative self-talk into this kind of self-talk.
What is positive (or helpful) self-talk?
In a growth mindset, you don't get upset when you make one of these on your homework; instead, you see it as a chance to learn and get smarter!
What is a mistake?
If you see a classmate looking lonely on the playground, showing empathy might mean walking over and asking them to do this with you.
What is play?
If a classmate is being picked on and you aren't sure how to stop it, the safest way to advocate for them is to go tell one of these trusted grown-ups.
What is an adult? (or teacher/parent)
If you accidentally knock over a friend's block tower, making amends doesn't just mean apologizing; it also means helping them do this.
What is rebuild it? (or fix it/clean it up)
Taking a deep breath and telling yourself "I practiced and I will do my best" is a great way to use self-talk right before taking one of these in school.
What is a test? (or quiz/exam)
People with a growth mindset love to use this small, three-letter word to remind themselves that even if they don't know how to do something right now, they will learn eventually.
What is "yet"?
Showing empathy often means following this famous, "shiny" rule: treat other people the way you would want to be treated.
What is the Golden Rule?
You are being a great advocate when you notice someone sitting all alone at recess or lunch, and you invite them to do this.
What is join you? (or play/sit with you)
The best way to show you are truly sorry is to try your hardest not to repeat the mistake, proving you have changed this "B" word.
What is your behavior?
When you use kind words to encourage yourself to keep trying, you are acting like your own personal one of these, who yells "Go team!" at a sports game.
What is a cheerleader? (or coach)
Instead of taking the easy way out, a growth mindset encourages you to embrace one of these, which is a difficult task or problem that tests your skills.
What is a challenge?
If your friend is crying because their favorite toy broke, empathy helps you understand that they are feeling this emotion.
What is sad? (or upset)
Advocating for others helps make sure that everyone in your school feels safe, welcome, and treated with this important "R" word.
What is respect?
Making amends is a lot like being a repair person, but instead of fixing a broken toy, you use kind words and actions to help fix a broken one of these.
What is a friendship?