“Read the Room!”
“Wow, thanks for saving me a seat…” said with an eye-roll.
→ What does the speaker really mean?
They’re being sarcastic — they’re upset no seat was saved.
“I’m stuffed!”
→ What does this idiom mean?
Your friend’s family can’t have Thanksgiving this year. What can you do or say?
“I’m really sorry. Want to hang out with me or video chat?” Offer support without pity.
You don’t understand a direction. What’s an appropriate way to ask for help?
Could you explain that one more time?
You feel frustrated and are in disagreement with your friends. What is one coping strategy?
Deep breathing, taking a short break, or counting to 10.
A friend says, “It’s freezing in here,” but never asks for anything.
→ What are they indirectly requesting?
They probably want someone to close the door, get a blanket/coat, or turn up the heat.
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
→ What does this mean when talking about big group projects?
Don’t take on more work than you can handle.
Daily Double: Why do you need to reflect on how much effort you're willing to put into a group project?
A classmate is unusually quiet during group work. What might they be feeling? (name 3)
Tired, upset, overwhelmed, or anxious — something changed their mood.
A classmate shares an idea. How do you show you listened? Non-verbal and Verbal
Eyes are not on something else distracting and we are demonstrating active listening.
So what you’re saying is…” then restate
Someone interrupts you and you start shutting down. What can you say?
I wasn’t done yet — can I finish my thought?
Someone texts “K.”
→ What emotion or attitude might they be implying?
They might be annoyed, short, or not in the mood to talk
A sibling jokingly says, “Don’t hog all the mashed potatoes!”
→ Is this friendly teasing or mean teasing? What clues tell you?
Friendly teasing — tone is playful and smiling.
Someone says “Whatever, I don’t care,” but looks upset
They probably do care but don’t want to talk about it.
Someone dominates the discussion. How do you join in?
I’d like to add something,” said assertively but calmly.
Another student makes a joke that hurts your feelings.
That joke isn't funny to me, please don’t say that again.
Your cousin says, “I guess nobody wants dessert…” while staring at the untouched pie.
→ What are they hinting you should do?
They want someone to take a slice (or offer to)
We have a full plate this week.”
→ What does “full plate” mean?
There is a lot to do this week
A friend gets quiet when everyone else is talking about expensive gifts they’re hoping for. What might they be feeling?
They might not be able to afford those things and feel uncomfortable
A family member asks you to help with a simple kitchen task, but you’re in the middle of a game or video.
Challenge: How do you ask for a minute or agree to help without sounding annoyed,
“Sure, I can help! Can I finish this level real quick? It’ll be like two minutes.”
—or—
“Yeah, I can do that. Just tell me what you need.”
You talk too fast because you’re nervous. What can you do in the moment?
Pause, take a breath, slow down intentionally.
A friend posts, “Love spending holidays alone…” with a sad look, emoji, or song.
What is the person communicating between the lines?
They’re indirectly saying they’re lonely or disappointed.
That plan is half-baked.”
→ What does this idiom mean?
The idea isn’t fully thought out yet
Your grandparent proudly serves you a dish you really don’t like and asks, “Do you like it?”
Challenge: How do you respond politely while being honest?
“Thank you for making this! It’s not my favorite, but I’ll try a little bit.”
Your grandparent proudly serves you a dish you really don’t like and asks, “Do you like it?”
Challenge: How do you respond politely while being honest?
“Thank you for making this! It’s not my favorite, but I’ll try a little bit.”
A conversation gets heated. What’s a sign it needs a pause?
Raised voices, interrupting, or people getting their feelings hurt.