New Unthinkables
New Unthinkables
Original Unthinkables
Original Unthinkables
Mix and Match
100
When you make a mistake, tell yourself, “oops!” or “it’s ok if I’m wrong sometimes because I am right a lot of times”.
What is Can't be Wrong Rita
100
Use self talk, “I can do this”. “if I haven’t tried it, I don’t know that I can’t do it”. Break down the task into three small parts. Take a short break in between parts. Remember that even though what you are doing right now may feel hard and boring, it won’t last forever.
What is Armored Alex
100
Before you play a game, think about how to be a good sport. If a game isn’t going your way, stay calm and use self-talk that it’s nice to be playing with others. Remember to add friendly thoughts during the game to show other people in the group that you’re thinking of them. Some examples, “nice shot, good game”.
What is the Destroyer of Fun
100
If you have something you don’t like or don’t want to do and see yourself heading down the grumpy path, think about how you look to others. Break down the task into smaller parts so that you don’t see it as such a big job. If you seem to be grumpy or down a lot, talk to a trusted adult, parent, teacher about what’s bothering you. Make a journal of things that make you feel good. When you catch yourself getting down and grumpy about something, look at your book to help you stay positive and move through it.
What is Grump Gumpaniny
100
When you are feeling frustrated and want to do things your way, think about how others feel and use flexible thinking. An example of flexible thinking it: “I really want to use my idea in group, but the group used my idea last time. If I listen to their ideas and use them, they will have good thoughts about me and maybe will use mine next time.”
What is Rock Brain
200
Take calming breaths---take a deep breath and count to 10. Try using an object to fidget with, like a stress ball, as long as people around you can still concentrate. Take a short break from a task. Get a drink of water or take a walk.
What is Antsy Nancy
200
When you talk with others or are in a class dealing with a topic in which you are not interested, fake it and make people feel like you do want to take part. Look at the person or stay involved with the activity. Use non verbal cues to show you are interested (nodding your head, continue to work on homework). Ask questions or make comments to show you’re listening.
What is Bored Bobby
200
Use your social detective skills to notice if your energy level matches what’s expected for that situation and others around you. When your body has too much energy, check with your teacher about going to a place in the classroom where you can take some deep breaths and calm yourself. Take a walk, move at times before you know you are going to be sitting in class for a while.
What is Energy Harey
200
If you have a mean thought about someone, turn on y our brain filter, which only lets thoughts through the filter that helps others to feel okay or even good. This imaginary devise keeps your mean or a bossy word trapped in your mind and only lets the friendly words out. If you know of situations where it will be difficult not to be mean and bossy, remind yourself to work extra hard and to think about how others will be thinking about what you say to them! To help you stay calm, take a calming breath and remind yourself that saying nice words will cause others to have good feelings about you.
What is Mean Jean
200
Ask the teacher if you can go get a drink of water or go to the sink and wash your face. Ask your teacher if you can stand up at your desk and stretch to wake up your body. Try to go to bed early the next night.
What is Bedman
300
If this Unthinkable gets you to do things that are against the rules in order to get attention, think about how frustrating it is when people are mad at you or aren’t nice to you when they pay you all the attention. Notice what’s expected and try to decrease the number of times you get attention for doing unexpected behaviors.
What is Attention Eater
300
Make a schedule of times for reading, studying, and socializing when at school, at home, or in other social situations. Practice sticking to your schedule during study times. This can mean putting the book away you want to read and reminding yourself that you’ll feel better about getting your homework done. You should put you’re in a place you can’t easily reach during lecture time, study time, or social time.
What is Book Magnet
300
Use checklists and schedules to help you see what you may need to focus on to get your homework organized for the night. Remember to keep your eyes on the speaker, your body turned towards the speaker, and think about what the speaker is talking about. Work with a teacher to break a big job into smaller parts. Use a timer to see how long you can pay attention in class.
What is Brain Eater
300
Observe how others stand in groups and how their bodies are pretty organized about how far from or close they are to another person. Practice using the one arm rule. Notice if people take a few steps to move a little away from you when you interact with them. If they do, that’s a clue that you are too close. Refrain from touching others such as poking, grabbing, etc…
What is Space Invader
300
If you think you are funny or good at humor, ask someone who you trust, like a parent or a teacher who sees you around other kids, to honestly tell you if you’re good at using humor. If the answer is no, work with adults to help you learn more about humor. Before your use humor, think about if it is the right time, right place, and with the right person. Does this humor make fun or someone? If so, you shouldn’t use it.
What is Wasfunnyonce
400
If you’ve raised your hand to speak, look to see if they teacher is looking at you and about to call on your. If not, keep the thought in your head or write it down to remember later. During discussions in which everybody is jumping into speak, watch the speaker to see what that citizen is done speaking. Be ready to speak next.
What is Blurt Out Blue
400
Stop and think about the fact that people may not trust you or feel good about you if you lie and blame someone else so you can stay out of trouble. Think about how honesty makes people feel comfortable and builds trust. If you admit that you’re in the wrong even when it’s hard, others will be more likely to believe you in the future.
What is Captain Blame-O
400
Explore the size of the problem that’s bothering you. If you realize that the problem is small, you can have a more expected reaction like letting it go, ignoring it, or choosing to calmly talk to someone about it. If you’re with others and start to get frustrated, let them know that you need a short break. Take yourself somewhere quiet and try to take some deep breaths and calm yourself. When calm, think about positive ways to solve what’s bothering you.
What is Glassman
400
Ask yourself, will this comment relate back to the topic we’re talking about? If the answer in no, keep that thought in your brain. Listen while people are talking and think about what questions or comments you can make related to the topic. If people look confused or stop a conversation after you have spoken off topic, you should apologize and let the original topic resume.
What is TopicTwistermeister
400
Make a list of what you are worrying about. Think about the size of the worry and rate it 1-5. 3, 4, 5 worries are real problems or is your brain making them bigger than they are?
What is Worry Wall
500
Think about how your comments make other people feel. Ask other people about what they’ve done or are doing. If you know someone hasn’t done well on a project or test and you have, keep your thoughts about your success in your head so you don’t sound like you are bragging. When you are proud of what you’ve done, tell yourself that you are proud of you, but not in front of others.
What is Boastful Boar
500
Stand about one arm’s length away from the people you are talking to. Stand about two arm’s length away from people you’re near but not talking with or don’t plan to talk to.
What is Big Bubble Bob and Space Squid
500
If you are unsure of what to do, think with your eyes and find the clues that show you it’s ok to get up and move away from the group. For example, one clue may be your teacher is sitting at his or her desk and isn’t talking to the whole class. If you have searched for clues and are still not sure if it’s ok to get out of your desk, raise your hand and ask the teacher. Imagine you have special social glue that keeps you in the group.
What is Body Snatcher
500
Use your people file tool, an imaginary file in your brain you can use to keep information that you learn about a friend, classmate, or anyone else. In future conversations, you can open that file and remember a topic or hobby the person is interested in and ask a question about it. If you are unsure what to ask, use an imaginary flip it tool to ask the person something similar to what a person asked you. For example, “Have you seen any good movies lately?”
What is One Sided Sid
500
Think about good conversation starters, called “World Wonder Questions”, such as “what did you do last night?” “Did you have a good weekend? “ “How was the Math test?”
What is UnWonderer
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