Getting Started
The teacher says "Take out your notebook." What's the BEST tiny step
A. Ask a friend what page they're using
B. Wait until others have theirs out
C. Flip through old notes to remind yourself of topics
D. Take out the notebook, write name/date, and get it read
Correct Answer: D. Take out the notebook, write name/date, and get it read
Explanation: This is a "micro-start." It puts you into work mode quickly.
Why others are wrong: * A → Asking others slows you down and distracts them.
B → Waiting delays your start.
C → Looking through old notes doesn't begin the new task
You're thinking about home or family stress during class. What's the best first step?
A. Try to ignore the thoughts and work fast
B. Take 2 slow breaths to settle your body
C. Stare at your paper until the feeling passes
D. Put your head down and go to sleep
Correct Answer: B. Take 2 slow breaths to settle your body
Explanation: Breathing calms the nervous system so you can focus.
Why others are wrong: * A → Ignoring feelings usually makes them louder.
C → Staring doesn't help you regulate.
D → Sleeping avoids the problem instead of managing it.
Distracting Friends
Question: A friend keeps trying to talk to you. What should you do?
A. Move materials closer to look busy
B. Quietly signal or whisper, "I need a couple minutes to work"
C. Turn your body slightly away
D. Joke back for a moment
Correct Answer: B. Quietly signal or whisper, "I need a couple minutes to work"
Explanation: This sets a clear boundary while staying respectful and quiet.
Why others are wrong: * A → Looking busy isn't working.
C → Doesn't communicate your need.
D → Keeps the distraction going.
You don't know how to start your first sentence. What should you ask for?
A. Start in the middle
B. Ask for a sentence starter
C. Wait for someone else to begin
D. Reread directions
Correct Answer: B. Ask for a sentence starter
Explanation: It gives you the exact tool you need to begin writing.
Why others are wrong: * A → Can confuse you later.
C → Keeps you stuck.
D → Won't magically give you the first sentence.
Question: When a task is overwhelming, what's the MAIN reason tiny steps work?
A. They make you look busy
B. They beat the stuck/overwhelmed feeling
C. They let you avoid hard parts
D. They give you an excuse to take breaks
Correct Answer: B. They beat the stuck/overwhelmed feeling
Explanation: Tiny steps break mental paralysis by making the task feel doable.
Why others are wrong: * A → Looking busy isn't the goal.
C → Helps you start, not avoid.
D → About starting, not breaking.
You're told to start a 5-paragraph essay. What should you do FIRST?
A. Rewrite the question multiple times to warm up
B. Wait for the teacher to explain again
C. Write one sentence to get momentum, even if it's not perfect
D. Write the title neatly at the top of the page
Correct Answer: C. Write one sentence to get momentum, even if it's not perfect
Explanation: This is the smallest action that actually starts the assignment. One sentence breaks the "stuck" feeling.
Why others are wrong: * A → Rewriting the question looks like work but doesn't help start the essay.
B → Waiting keeps you stuck and wastes time.
D → Writing only the title doesn't move you forward with the real task
You feel tired and unmotivated to start work. What should you do?
A. Tell yourself you'll start when you're fully motivated
B. Do a quick 1-minute start just to get yourself going
C. Ask a friend whether they feel tired too
D. Put your head down for a minute first
Correct Answer: B. Do a quick 1-minute start just to get yourself going
Explanation: Starting for just one minute helps your brain get unstuck and builds momentum.
Why others are wrong: * A → You may never feel motivated; this keeps you stuck.
C → Asking a friend doesn't help you begin.
D → Putting your head down stops progress.
The person next to you is loud. What's the best solution?
A. Wait for perfect silence
B. Look around to see who else is distracted
C. Try to focus harder even with the noise
D. Ask the teacher if you can move to a quieter spot
Correct Answer: D. Ask the teacher if you can move to a quieter spot
Explanation: You're solving the problem so you can focus and start.
Why others are wrong:
* A → Perfect silence is unrealistic.
B → Looking around wastes time.
C → Forcing focus in noise usually doesn't work.
You made a mistake on your paper. What should you do?
A. Erase everything
B. Rewrite everything
C. Cross it out and keep going
D. Stop working
Correct Answer: C. Cross it out and keep going
Explanation: Mistakes are normal; this keeps momentum going.
Why others are wrong: * A → Wastes time and energy.
B → Unnecessary.
D → Blocks progress.
What's wrong with "waiting for motivation"?
A. Motivation takes too long
B. Motivation never comes / you'll stay stuck
C. Motivation only works for fun things
D. Motivation requires teacher help
Correct Answer: B. Motivation never comes / you'll stay stuck
Explanation: Action creates motivation, not the other way around.
Why others are wrong: * A → Motivation doesn't just show up.
C → Works for everything, but waiting doesn't.
D → Motivation is internal.
You have a long science packet due. What's the best tiny step?
A. Skim the whole packet to find the hardest parts
B. Set it aside until you have more time
C. Do all diagrams first, even if out of order
D. Start by completing just the first question
Correct Answer: D. Start by completing just the first question
Explanation: This is the smallest action that gets you into the task.
Why others are wrong: * A → Looking for the hardest part increases stress.
B → Putting it aside makes you more behind.
C → Doing diagrams first may not help you begin the real content.
You just can't focus at all during independent work. What should you try?
A. Sit still and hope the feeling passes
B. Move seats without asking
C. Wait until the next subject
D. Ask to use a 3-minute focus timer
Correct Answer: D. Ask to use a 3-minute focus timer
Explanation: A short, structured focus period helps your brain "switch on."
Why others are wrong: * A → Sitting still doesn't change focus.
B → Moving without permission causes issues.
C → Waiting means no work gets done.
Your binder is messy and you need an assignment. What's the best tiny step?
A. Flip randomly through sections
B. Wait until you get home
C. Pull out just 5 papers to sort first
D. Dump everything out
Correct Answer: C. Pull out just 5 papers to sort first
Explanation: This is a small, doable starting point for organizing.
Why others are wrong:
A → Random flipping doesn't organize anything.
B → Waiting till get home delays the task and increases overwhelm.
D → Dumping everything out creates a bigger mess.
Overwhelming Length
Question: The assignment feels too long. What should you do?
A. Try to get halfway before a break
B. Look through all pages
C. Flip through hoping it feels shorter
D. Break it into chunks and choose one to start
Correct Answer: D. Break it into chunks and choose one to start
Explanation: Chunking reduces overwhelm and helps you start immediately.
Why others are wrong: * A → Too big of a goal, causes shutdown.
B → Makes it feel even longer.
C → Avoids real work.
You're completely stuck. Which strategy helps your brain?
A. Think harder about the perfect way to begin
B. Wait until you understand everything
C. Do any tiny step or micro-start
D. Ask someone to do it for you
Correct Answer: C. Do any tiny step or micro-start
Explanation: Brains accept tiny steps. Once you start, it becomes easier to continue.
Why others are wrong: * A → Keeps you stuck in your head.
B → You don't need perfection to start.
D → Doesn't help you personally get unstuck
You feel like giving up on your writing assignment. What should you do?
A. Write just the first 5 words
B. Skip to the conclusion
C. Re-read the prompt again
D. Tell yourself you'll restart later
Correct Answer: A. Write just the first 5 words
Explanation: A very small start reduces overwhelm and gets your brain moving.
Why others are wrong: * B → Skipping ahead could make writing harder.
C → Re-reading doesn't help you begin.
D → Waiting means you won't start at all.
The teacher redirects you to focus on your work. What's the best response?
A. Tell the teacher you'll try later
B. Ask the teacher what exactly they want changed
C. Say "Okay," then try one tiny step
D. Continue what you were doing
Correct Answer: C. Say "Okay," then try one tiny step
Explanation: Acknowledging and taking action helps you reset and get back on track.
Why others are wrong: * A → Waiting means you won't start.
B → Asking doesn't actually begin the work.
D → Continuing off-task behavior keeps you stuck
You forgot your pen or paper. What should you do?
A. Sit quietly until given something
B. Borrow what you need and start one small step
C. Wait for the teacher to notice
D. Ask a friend to show you their work
Correct Answer: B. Borrow what you need and start one small step
Explanation: You solve the problem quickly so you can begin working.
Why others are wrong: * A → Avoids the task.
C → Wastes time.
D → Copying isn't starting your own work.
You want to avoid the whole assignment. What's the best approach?
A. Look at the entire assignment
B. Wait until later
C. Make a full plan
D. Choose one small section and complete only that part first
Correct Answer: D. Choose one small section and complete only that part first
Explanation: Chunking a big task makes it manageable.
Why others are wrong: * A → Increases overwhelm.
B → Leads to more stress later.
C → Still doesn't get you started.
Which THREE strategies are examples of tiny steps?
A. Wait for help, think more, avoid task
B. Write one sentence, take 2 breaths, break into chunks
C. Complain, ask friends, look around
D. Make a detailed plan, organize perfectly, wait for motivation
Correct Answer: B. Write one sentence, take 2 breaths, break into chunks
Explanation: These are small, immediate actions that create forward momentum.
Why others are wrong: * A → Avoidance strategies.
C → Distractions.
D → Delays starting.