What was a better choice?
During class, Alex blurted out a joke while the teacher was giving directions.
Not interrupting, waiting his turn, or telling the joke to his friends later instead.
Oliver kept looking at the clock during class.
He was waiting for class to end / excited for something later
"I see it differently. I think we should try this way instead."
Is this appropriate or inappropriate?
Appropriate.
Your friend says your favorite movie came out in 2018, but you know it came out in 2019.
Is it better to be polite or right in this situation?
Polite - the year of the movie is not an important detail in this situation.
You accidentally bump into someone in the hallway and make them drop their books.
Apologize and help them clean up their books.
Emma was upset that her friend sat with someone else at lunch, so she ignored her all day.
Talking to her friend or asking for clarification.
Annabelle laughed after tripping in front of her friends, even though she scraped her knee.
She felt embarrassed and was trying to cover it up.
“That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.”
Is this appropriate or inappropriate?
Inappropriate.
A classmate accidentally skips you in line.
Is it better to be polite or right in this situation?
Right - skipping the line is breaking a rule and the person should wait their turn.
You forgot to do your part of a group project.
Be honest and apologize to the group. Ask them what you can do to fix it.
During a group project, Nolan did all the work because he didn’t trust his teammates to do it right. Later, he complained that no one helped.
Assigning jobs to the group members, allowing everyone to contribute, and understanding that teamwork is important.
During group work, Mateo agreed with everyone even though he had a different idea.
He didn’t want conflict, wanted to fit in, or he was nervous about speaking up.
Rolling your eyes and saying, “Whatever,” when someone shares their opinion.
Is this appropriate or inappropriate?
Inappropriate.
Your friend mispronounces a difficult word while presenting to the class.
Is it better to be polite or right in this situation?
Polite - even though they said the wrong incorrectly, telling them in public might embarrass them.
You made a joke that hurt your friend’s feelings.
Apologize and acknowledge their feelings.
A student posted a sarcastic comment online about a classmate after feeling left out.
Talking to the person directly or taking a moment to cool down and think before posting.
Carmen told a secret that wasn’t hers to share.
She wanted attention, wanted to feel included, or didn’t think about the consequences.
“I don’t agree, but can you explain your idea again?”
Is this appropriate or inappropriate?
Appropriate
During a science lab, your group member is about to mix chemicals in a way the teacher specifically said was unsafe.
Is it better to be polite or right in this situation?
Right - chemical reactions can be dangerous and the student needs to follow the teacher's instructions.
You sent an angry text and immediately regret it.
Send a follow-up text to apologize and let them know you were angry in the moment.
During a disagreement, Petra kept bringing up past mistakes her friend had made instead of focusing on the current issue.
Solve the current problem, stay focused, and be respectful to her friend.
When corrected by the teacher, Evan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms but didn’t say anything.
He felt embarrassed, defensive, or frustrated but didn’t know how to respond appropriately.
Offering a different solution and saying, “That might work, but I’m worried it could cause problems later."
Is this appropriate or inappropriate?
Appropriate.
Your friend is telling a story and gets a small detail wrong that makes you look slightly less impressive.
Is it better to be polite or right in this situation?
Polite - a small detail is not as important as letting your friend finish the story.
During an argument, you said something personal that crossed the line. The other person is now avoiding you.
Give them space and apologize when they are ready to talk to you.