Positive Choices & Responsibility
What does it mean to act responsibly at school?
Making safe, respectful choices and taking responsibility for your actions.
What is a classroom norm?
An expectation or guideline that helps everyone learn and feel respected.
What is a personal strength?
A positive quality, ability, or skill someone demonstrates.
What is praise?
Recognizing or expressing appreciation for someone's positive qualities, efforts, or actions.
What is inclusion?
Making sure everyone feels welcomed, respected, valued, and has opportunities to participate.
Name one way you can demonstrate responsibility in the hallway.
Walking safely, respecting personal space, or following school expectations.
Name one behavior that demonstrates respect during class.
Listening when others speak, waiting your turn, or using respectful language.
A student explains directions calmly to someone who is confused. What positive trait are they showing?
Patience or helpfulness.
Complete the three parts of meaningful praise: Trait, Action, and _____.
Impact.
What is exclusion?
Leaving someone out, ignoring them, or preventing them from participating or feeling accepted.
A student sees someone drop their belongings and stops to help. How could this choice affect the other student?
It could help them feel supported, respected, or less stressed.
Why is it important to follow classroom expectations even when the teacher isn't watching?
It demonstrates responsibility and helps maintain a safe, respectful learning environment.
What is the difference between a trait and an action?
A trait is a personal quality; an action is what someone does to demonstrate that quality.
Which praise is more specific: "You're nice" or "You were thoughtful when you helped me understand the assignment"?
The second statement because it identifies a positive trait and a specific action.
During a group project, three students ignore their fourth group member's ideas. Is this inclusion or exclusion? Why?
Exclusion, because the student is being left out of the group's decisions.
A student shares an embarrassing picture of a classmate online without permission. What is one possible negative impact?
The classmate could feel embarrassed, hurt, unsafe, or disrespected.
During a class discussion, one student repeatedly interrupts another. What classroom expectation is being ignored?
Respectful listening and allowing others to speak.
A classmate always completes their assigned part of a group project on time. Identify their trait, action, and impact.
Trait: dependable. Action: completes their work on time. Impact: helps the group stay organized and prepared.
A classmate invites a new student to join their group. Give meaningful praise that identifies the trait, action, and impact.
"You showed kindness when you invited the new student to join your group. You helped them feel welcomed and included."
A classmate has different interests and opinions from yours. Name two ways you can help them feel included.
Listen respectfully, invite their input, recognize their strengths, or include them in activities.
Two students make the same joke. One classmate laughs, while another feels hurt. What does this teach us about our choices?
The same behavior can affect people differently, so we should consider others' feelings and perspectives.
Your friend is talking loudly while another student is presenting. What could you do to support the classroom norms without being disrespectful?
Quietly remind your friend to listen or model respectful behavior by paying attention.
A student struggles with public speaking but is excellent at organizing information. How could they use their strength to contribute to a group presentation?
They could organize the slides, research information, or prepare an outline while practicing speaking skills.
You wanted to win an award, but your classmate won instead. Explain how congratulating them demonstrates a positive trait and impacts them.
It shows kindness and good sportsmanship, helping the classmate feel celebrated and supported.
A quiet student is consistently left out of group conversations. Describe two signs that they may be struggling to belong and one action you could take.
Signs could include being ignored or not having opportunities to participate. You could invite them to share their ideas without pressuring them.