Emotional Regulation
Any appropriate feeling word.
What does it mean to be a good friend?
Being kind, respectful, trustworthy, helpful, inclusive, etc...
What should you do before reacting to a problem
Stop and Think
Name one small way to be kind to a classmates every day?
Any appropriate response
Name one thing you can do when you're getting upset?
Breathe, count, pause, take a break, take a cold drink....
Your heart is beating fast, your hands feel sweaty, and your stomach may feel queasy. What emotion might you be experiencing?
Anxiety/Nervousness
Your friend is talking, but you really want to tell them your own story. What should you do?
Listen first, respond, then take your turn.
Name one person you can ask for help when you have a problem at school
Teacher, counselor, principal, trusted adult...
True or false: You can be kind even if people are different or they disagree with you.
True
True or false: Having a strong emotion means you have to act on it?
False...
Why is it important to identify your feelings?
Knowing what we feel helps us understand what we need and decide what to do next.
Someone asks you to exclude another student or tells you to leave someone out of a game. What could you do? What could you say?
Flip it back on them by asking "Why would we want to purposely leave someone out?" Remind them of the golden rule. Or Ms. Abby personal favorite... "Would you like that if we did it to you?"
Someone knocks your papers off your desk. What is a helpful response?
Assume it may have been accidental and calmly ask them to help pick them up.
You apologize to someone, but they aren't ready to forgive you... Does that mean the apology didn't work? Does that make them mean?
No, and apology doesn't mean immediate forgiveness. Your responsibility is to sincerely acknowledge what you did and then show with your actions that you can do better.
What happens to your brain if you refuse to do any proactive coping skills?
The upstairs and downstairs separate and that is when behavior can escalate.
You are angry because someone something did not go your way. Name at least 2 healthy ways you could handle your anger.
Take a deep breath, ask for help, use your words, take a break, count in your head, count colors before responding.
Your friends hurt your feelings but always say they are "Just joking". Tell me a respectful way to respond.
Tell them how you feel and explain that you don't like those comments.
Two students want the same classroom game. Name one fair solution.
Take turns, use a timer, share, or choose your second option.
You have two choices. One will make you feel good immediately, but could cause problems later. The other is difficult right now but would have better long term outcomes. What should you consider before choosing?
Think about consequences, how the decision affects yourself and others, whether its safe and responsible...
Is self control the same thing as never getting angry, frustrated or upset?
No, self control doesn't mean you prevent emotions. It means you recognize them and choose to respond in an appropriate and safe way.
A student says, "I'm not mad. I don't care." but they are yelling, clenching their fists, and refusing to participate. What might be happening, and why might someone have trouble identifying or admitting their emotions?
They could be hurt, embarrassed, angry, or frustrated. Sometimes people have difficulty recognizing or admitting emotions because they don't know what they're feeling, don't feel comfortable being vulnerable, or are trying to protect themselves.
You notice a child that is always alone... name 2 things you could do?
Invite them to play, sit with them, talk with them, learn about them.
You and another student both believe you are right about an argument. You have already explained your side, but neither of you are listening to each other. What is the problem with continuing to argue and what could you do differently?
Continuing may make the conflict worse because neither person is actually listening or thinking clearly. They could pause, calm down, listen to the other perspective and find 1 thing they agree on, compromise, or ask an adult.
Someone reacts strongly to something that doesn't seem like a big deal to you. Why might saying "you're over reacting" make the situation worse? What could you say instead?
Their experience and emotions may be different from yours. No one likes feeling dismissed. You could say "I can see this is very upsetting for you. Can you tell me what you're feeling?"
Why does "getting even" or saying something unkind back to someone, sometimes feel natural? What can happen if you make that choice? What can you do to avoid this?
Our brains often want to defend ourselves... however, responding with a hurtful comment can escalate the conflict, damage the relationship, and lead to consequences. Pausing allows your brain to catch up...