Discussion
What are two things you should think about before making a decision?
What could happen? Will this choice hurt someone or help someone? Etc
You tell someone you are sorry but continue doing the same thing that upset them
Negative
Your friends tell you that you cannot play with them unless you make fun of another student. What should you do?
Refuse and avoid participating in unkind behavior.
You tell your friend, "I'm only joking," after making fun of their appearance. Is this acceptable?
Negative choice; joking does not make hurtful comments okay.
Someone accidentally bumps into you in line. What is a smart way to respond?
Stay calm and keep moving or politely communicate.
Can a choice be negative even if everyone else is doing it?
Yes
You are angry because you did not get picked first for a team. You congratulate the students who were selected.
Smart
Your friend gets in trouble and asks you to lie to the teacher about what happened. What should you do?
Tell the truth, even if your friend becomes upset.
You help clean up the classroom, but only because you want the teacher to give you a reward. Is helping still a positive behavior?
The action is positive, but the motivation is focused on a reward rather than responsibility.
Your teacher asks you to put away your materials, but you want to keep playing. What should you do?
Follow directions and put the materials away.
What is one thing you can do when someone is trying to get you to make a negative choice?
Say no, walk away, or make a different choice.
You receive a consequence for your behavior, but you spend the entire day blaming the teacher instead of thinking about what you could change.
Negative – You avoided accountability and missed an opportunity to learn.
Your friends are whispering about another student. They ask you to share something embarrassing you know about that student. What is the smart choice?
Keep the information private and don't participate in gossip.
You see someone being teased. You don't participate, but you laugh along with everyone else. Did you make a smart choice?
No. Laughing encourages the hurtful behavior.
A classmate says something unkind about you. What is a better choice than fighting?
Use respectful words, walk away, or ask an adult for help.
Why is it important to think before you act?
It helps prevent problems and allows us to make better decisions.
You know that making a certain joke will hurt someone's feelings, but you say it anyway because you think everyone else will laugh.
Negative
Your friend is making disruptive choices during group activities. You know you should stay focused, but you don't want your friend to think you're boring. What should you do?
Stay on task and make your own decisions.
You apologize to someone because you got caught doing something wrong, but you plan to do it again tomorrow. Have you taken responsibility?
Not fully. Taking responsibility includes making an effort to change the behavior.
You accidentally break something in the classroom. Nobody saw you do it. What should you do?
Take responsibility and tell the truth.
What does it mean to take responsibility for your actions?
Admitting what you did and accepting the consequences.
You are given a second chance after making a poor decision. You recognize that you could repeat the same behavior, but intentionally choose a different response.
Smart
Someone tells you that being a good friend means always agreeing with them, even when they are doing something wrong. Are they correct? Explain.
No. A good friend can disagree respectfully and encourage positive decisions.
You follow the classroom rules all day but encourage your friends to break them when the teacher leaves. Are you making smart choices?
No. Your choices are still negative even if you personally avoid getting caught.
Your friends are making poor choices during group time and encourage you to join them. What should you do?
Make your own smart choice, avoid joining the behavior, and encourage positive behavior.