What Happened?
100 – Q: What does it mean to explain what happened in a calm way?
A: Telling the truth about what you did and what others did, using a calm voice.
100 – Q: Someone bumps your chair by accident. Big deal or small deal? Why?
A: Small deal — it wasn’t on purpose.
100 – Q: What does “taking responsibility” mean?
A: Admitting what you did and trying to fix it.
100 – Q: What can you say instead of yelling?
A: “I’m frustrated,” “Can I have a break?”, or “I need help.”
100 – Q: Name one strategy you can use when you feel upset.
A: Deep breathing, counting to 10, asking for a break, squeezing a stress ball.
200 – Q: Why is it important to think about your part in a problem?
A: Because knowing what you did helps you fix it and make a better choice next time.
200 – Q: A classmate won’t let you use a marker. Big or small?
A: Small deal — you can wait or choose another color.
200 – Q: Why is telling the truth important even when scared?
A: It helps people trust you, and problems get fixed faster.
200 – Q: What could you do instead of annoying peers for attention?
A: Ask someone nicely to play, wait for a turn, or talk to an adult if you need help.
200 – Q: What does it feel like in your body when you’re overwhelmed (covering ears, yelling)?
A: Tight muscles, loud thoughts, heart beating fast, feeling jumpy, wanting to shut down.
300 – Q: Describe a time someone told you “stop.” What happened before and after?
A: Example answer: I kept touching a friend. They said “stop.” I stopped and apologized, or I should have stopped if I didn’t.
300 – Q: You interrupt someone repeatedly and they get annoyed. Big or small? What should you do?
A: Small-to-medium deal — you should stop, say sorry, and give them space.
300 – Q: What might adults do when they know you’re being honest?
A: They respect you more, trust you, and may give lighter consequences.
300 – Q: What is a respectful way to ask for space?
A: “I need some space right now,” or “Please give me a minute.”
300 – Q: What can you do if you feel like you need to shout “I DIDN’T DO IT!” before thinking?
A: Pause, breathe, count to 5, then say “Can I talk about this calmly?”
400 – Q: If you said or did something unkind, what information should you share when explaining what happened?
A: What you did, why you did it, and that you understand it wasn’t okay.
400 – Q: You shout during an assembly. Big or small? What is the consequence?
A: Medium-to-big deal — it disrupts others; you may need to talk with an adult and apologize.
400 – Q: Why does saying “I didn’t do it!” right away make things harder?
A: It looks like you’re lying and makes adults think you’re not ready to talk.
400 – Q: If you feel tempted to deny something, what sentence starter could you use to take responsibility?
A: “I made a mistake when I…”
400 – Q: How can you use a break card or safe spot appropriately?
A: Ask for it before losing control, use it quietly, and return when ready.
500 – Q: You boo at an assembly and a teacher hears it. What happened? How can you tell the truth even if it’s uncomfortable?
A: Example: “I booed, and it wasn’t respectful. I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time.” Being honest helps people trust you.
500 – Q: You deny something even though an adult directly saw it. Big or small? How does this affect trust?
A: Big deal — lying makes it harder for adults to trust you.
500 – Q: If you make a mistake and then lie, what TWO problems do you now need to fix?
A: The behavior AND the dishonesty.
500 – Q: Rewind & Try Again: Re-write this: “Teachers always try to get me in trouble!” into a responsible statement.
A: “I made a choice I need to fix,” or “I didn’t like what happened, but I can talk calmly.”
500 – Q: Create a 3-step plan for calming down before talking to an adult about what happened.
A:
Take 3 deep breaths or get a break.
Calm your body.
Use a calm voice to explain what happened.