WHAT COULD YOU SAY?
You didn’t hear the teacher’s directions.
“Can you repeat that?”
Instead of “I don’t know,” what could you say if you missed directions?
Ask for repetition
You forgot what page the class is working on.
Problem: Missed information
Who can you ask if you miss directions in class?
Teacher
You cannot find where the class is reading.
Ask what page everyone is on
You don’t know how to start the worksheet.
“Can you help me get started?”
Instead of shrugging when confused, what could you say?
Ask for help/clarification
You do not know what the directions mean.
Problem: Confused by directions
You are confused about chores or instructions at home. Who could help?
Parent/guardian or family member
You missed part of the science directions because classmates were talking.
Ask for directions to be repeated
The math problem looks confusing.
“Can you show me an example?”
Instead of sitting silently when stuck, what could you say?
“Can you help me understand this?”
You understand the assignment but not how to begin.
Problem: Trouble getting started
You do not understand how to complete your part of a group project. Who could help?
Teacher, peer, or support staff
You do not understand how to begin a writing assignment.
Ask for an example or first step
Everyone else started the assignment, but you still don’t understand what to do.
“Can you explain the first step?”
Instead of guessing randomly on an assignment, what could you say?
Ask for an example or clarification
The teacher explained too quickly and you missed several steps.
Problem: Need clarification/repetition
You are at work and do not understand how to complete a task correctly. Who could help?
Boss, supervisor, or coworker
You feel confused during a multi-step project but do not want to say “I don’t know.”
Use a specific self-advocacy statement
You understand part of the assignment but not all of it.
“I understand the beginning, but I’m confused about the next part.”
Instead of shutting down during a difficult task, what could you say?
Explain exactly what part is confusing
You feel overwhelmed because there are too many instructions at once.
Problem: Need information broken down into smaller steps
You feel overwhelmed because you missed several steps during a new activity and need someone to break it down for you. Who could help?
Teacher, parent, boss, coworker, counselor, or trusted adult depending on the setting
The teacher explains a new assignment quickly. Everyone starts working, but you are confused, overwhelmed, and tempted to just say “I don’t know.”
Student should: