Riding the Bus
You ask someone on the bus if you can sit with them and they say, "I'm saving it".
What does this mean, and how should you react?
It means that they don't want anyone to sit down with them because they are waiting for a specific friend to board the bus and sit with them.
You should find another open seat instead.
You ask some of your classmates if you can join their basketball game at recess. One of them says, "Our teams are even right now." What do they mean, and how do you respond?
What they mean: They mean that they do not want another player.
How to respond:
Ask if you could find another person to join the other team to keep them even.
Wait until the next game.
Find another activity to do.
You are at your neighbor's cat-themed birthday party and they are given a kitten as a gift. They start crying and petting the kitten.
What does their behavior mean?
A) They hate kittens and do not like the gift.
B) They are upset that they weren't given a dog instead.
C) They are very excited to have a kitten and are crying "happy tears"
C) They are very excited to have a kitten and are crying "happy tears"
When people feel very emotional they sometimes cry, whether they are happy or sad. Because we know that the neighbor likes cats, we can assume that they are very happy.
At the beginning of class the room is noisy and everyone is talking. The teacher says, "I'll wait".
What do they mean, and how should you react?
What they mean: They want the students to be quiet so that class can begin. The statement indicates that they will not start until the room is quiet, but they expect that after saying this the students will stop and listen.
How you should react: Stop talking to other students, look at the teacher so that they know you are ready to begin.
A family member gives you $10. As you walk away you hear them ask, "Didn't you forget something?" What do they mean?
This could mean different things depending on the family member. Did you remember to thank them for the gift? Are they expecting a hug or handshake?
If you are uncertain, just ask what they meant.
You see two students at the back of the bus who are friends. They are laughing, throwing each other's backpacks, and pushing each other out of their seat.
Are they fighting? How should you respond?
They are "play-fighting", because you know they are friends and they are laughing.
You most likely do not need to respond, unless you see someone get hurt or they start doing it to someone who does not like it.
If the bus driver does not like the other students' behavior they will address it themselves.
You are telling a friend at lunch about your new video game. They are looking away, not saying anything in response, and look bored. You continue telling them about the game.
What are their physical cues telling you? What should you do next?
If someone appears bored and is not engaged in the conversation, they likely do not want to keep listening to you talk about the subject.
You could change the subject to something else or ask them to tell you about a video game they like.
The person you walk home with every day that is usually very talkative is not saying anything to you and looking down at the ground.
How should you react to their cues?
Their cues tell you that something is wrong and/or they are not in a good mood.
You could respect their privacy and walk home quietly.
You could also gently ask them if everything is okay.
Others?
Your teacher hands back your most recent test. You notice that a student in the class starts crying.
Why do you think they are crying, and how should you respond?
They are most likely crying because they didn't do very well on the test.
You could respond by giving them privacy by not staring and quietly ask if they are okay in the moment or after class.
What are three ways you can demonstrate to someone that you are listening with your body language?
Eye contact
Nod your head
Head tilt
Don't multitask
Body faced towards person
Uncrossed arms
Slight lean forward
Others?
When you get on the bus you see that there are only two other students on board. They are sitting in different seats and the rest of the seats are open. No other students are riding the bus today.
Where should you sit?
If one of the students is your friend, you may want to sit in the seat across from them so that you can talk.
If you do not know them, you should select any open seat.
Because so many of the other seats are open, it may seem strange to them if you try to share their seat.
You are interested in getting to know more people during lunch time. You sit down at a table where you have never met anyone. They give you a strange look.
Why did this happen? What could be done differently?
This happened because they do not know why you sat down when they do not know you. They might think that you're weird or sat down at the wrong table.
When meeting new people it is a good idea to use people you already know to help.
If you sit down at a table where you already know one or two people, it makes it easier to talk to the other people you don't know because you have a friend in common.
You know someone that you play with on a sports team but you do not hang out with them at school.
Are they a
A) Close friend/best friend
B) Acquaintance
C) Family friend
Acquaintance.
What are some appropriate ways that you could get to know them better?
Your teacher asks how your weekend was, you should:
(A) Not answer, she was just trying to be polite
(B) Share a brief summary and then ask her the same question
(C) Tell her everything about your new video game
(D) Share that your parents were in a huge fight
Answer: (B) Share a brief summary and then ask her the same question
This is the expected response because it is polite, does not share too much detail, and gives her a chance to respond about her own weekend.
You call your friend 3 to 4 times each night and leave a voicemail message each time.
Is this behavior expected or unexpected?
Unexpected.
This may make the friend feel overwhelmed or annoyed at how much you are contacting them.
1-2 calls a week may be more appropriate depending on the friend.
You also want to check if they are ever calling you, and make sure that you friendship is not one-sided.
If you are sitting with a friend on the bus and they want to show you an inappropriate video on their phone, what do you do?
Say no thanks, offer to show them a video of funny animals instead.
Change the subject.
Start talking to someone in a nearby seat about something else.
Others?
A friend sat with you at lunch, but left you to do another activity at recess.
Is this expected or unexpected?
Expected.
Friends do not have to do everything together to still be friends with each other, it is normal to sometimes want to try different things or spend time with other people.
When you get home from school your parent asks you how your day went. You did not have a good day, and you do not want to talk about it.
What is an expected reaction in this situation?
Tell them that it was not great but that you do not feel like talking about it, but if you change your mind you'll come to them later.
Say that it was, "just okay", and then excuse yourself to go to your room.
Others?
A classmate asks you to text them the answers to the history test you already took. They promise to invite you to their party this weekend if you do.
What do you do?
Options:
Text them the answers. This would risk you and them getting in trouble, and they probably aren't a very good friend if this is the only reason they would invite you to their party.
Report them to the teacher. This may make you unpopular as most people do not like when people tell on them, or are a "snitch".
Tell them you aren't comfortable sharing the answers, and that you already have plans this weekend. This appropriately lets them know how you feel about the situation and that your mind cannot be changed.
Your class is going out in community. Your teacher goes over the rules and says, "Please remember that you are representing our school."
What does the teacher mean by this?
She means that the students should behave respectfully. When members of the community see the students of a school acting well they are impressed and may invite them back.
The person you are sharing a seat with says something that hurts your feelings. You start yelling at them and calling them names in response.
Is this expected or unexpected?
Unexpected.
If someone hurt your feelings you could...
Ignore them
Explain why you didn't like what they said and give them a chance to apologize
Move to a different seat (or not sit with them next time)
Others?
It's time for recess but you don't feel like going outside today. You ask the teacher in charge if you are allowed to spend recess in the library instead.
Is this expected or unexpected?
Expected.
Asking a teacher and having a solution (going to the library) for your problem is a responsible thing to do.
If you did not ask and were wandering around the school, the teachers do not know where you are and you would get in trouble for breaking the rules.
You stop by the gas station on your way home to buy a snack. You make your purchase without looking at or saying anything to the cashier.
Is this expected or unexpected?
Unexpected.
When making transactions (at the bank, store, etc.) it is polite to have a brief interaction with the other person.
This might look like saying hello, asking how their day was, smiling at them, etc.
During class, a peer shares that they got a new dog over the weekend. You say, "Cool! What kind of dog is it?"
Is this expected or unexpected?
Expected.
When someone shares an exciting piece of news it is expected to ask follow up questions. Other expected questions could be,
"What did you name them?" or, "Is it a boy or girl?"
Someone who asks you to say and/or do inappropriate things is a
A) Acquaintance
B) Not a friend
C) Close friend/Best friend
B) Not a friend
If someone asks you to say something inappropriate because they think it is funny, they might be making fun of you and are not a friend.