Values
Define "value" in your own words and give one example of a personal value an 8th grader might have.
A value is a belief about what is important; for example, honesty.
What is the difference between a strength and an interest? Give one example of each.
A strength is something you do well (ex., good at organizing); an interest is something you enjoy (ex., enjoying drawing)
Define "character" and "reputation" and explain how they are different.
Character is who you are and your values/behavior; reputation is what others think of you based on your actions. They differ because character is internal while reputation is external
What does confidence mean? Give one simple strategy to boost confidence before a presentation.
Confidence is believing in your ability to do something. Strategy: Practice with a mirror or rehearse key points aloud.
Define "self-talk" and give one positive and one negative example someone might say to themselves
Self-talk is the internal voice we use to think about ourselves. Positive: "I can learn this." Negative: "I’m terrible at everything."
Name two ways someone can discover or clarify their personal values.
Reflect on decisions that felt right/wrong or ask trusted people what they admire about you.
List three quick ways to discover your strengths and interests
Try new clubs/activities, take a skills survey, ask friends/teachers for feedback
Give two behaviors that build trust and improve someone’s reputation at school
Keeping promises and admitting mistakes honestly.
Describe a short example (1–2 sentences) of a time when someone showed healthy confidence in school and explain one specific behavior that made it healthy
A student volunteered to lead the group presentation and asked classmates for input to improve the plan; the behavior that made it healthy was asking for feedback and valuing others' ideas.
Explain how negative self-talk can affect performance and mood. Provide one quick strategy to change negative self-talk
Negative self-talk can lower motivation and increase anxiety, making mistakes more likely. Strategy: Pause and reframe the thought into a neutral or positive statement (replace "I always fail" with "I’m still learning; I’ll try a different strategy")
Explain why values matter when making a difficult decision. Give a short example (school or social)
Values guide choices and help you act consistently; (ex.), if you value responsibility, you’ll choose studying over skipping a test prep session.
Describe how knowing your strengths can help you when working on a group project.
Knowing strengths lets you assign roles (e.g., a good presenter leads the presentation), so the team works efficiently and everyone contributes
A rumor spreads about a classmate. Describe two ethical ways to respond that reflect good character
Talk privately to the classmate to offer support and avoid spreading the rumor; correct misinformation by telling a teacher if it hurts someone’s safety or well-being.
Identify two mindset shifts an 8th grader can use to recover confidence after failing a quiz.
View failure as feedback (what to improve) and focus on effort and strategies rather than fixed ability (“I can improve with study”)
Reframe this negative thought into a balanced, positive self-talk statement: "I'll never be good at this."
"I’m not good at this yet, but with practice I can improve and I’ll try one new strategy today."
A friend pressures you to skip a study session. Describe how you would use your values to respond
I’d recall my value of responsibility and say no politely, offering to hang out after I finish studying.
Choose a strength and an interest. Explain how you could combine them to set a goal for the next school year.
Strength: public speaking. Interest: environmental issues. Goal: Join the ecology club and lead a presentation about recycling at least twice this year.
Explain how consistent small actions over time affect a person's reputation. Provide an example showing both positive and negative effects.
Small repeated actions build patterns people notice; (ex.), consistently helping peers leads to a reputation as reliable, while often being late creates an image of being irresponsible.
Your teammate criticizes your idea during a class discussion. In 2–3 sentences, explain how you would respond in a way that preserve your confidence and keep the conversation constructive.
Thanks for the feedback. I see your point about time constraints. Could we try a smaller version of my idea and test it to see if it works?
Create a short daily self-talk routine (3 sentences) an 8th grader can say each morning to start the day with a positive self-talk and a growth mindset.
1) "I can learn from what I don’t know today." 2) "I will try my best and ask for help when I need it." 3) "Small steps add up. I will notice progress."
Scenario: volunteer at community event important to family vs. paid shift to save for college. Identify two conflicting values, then explain which value you would prioritize and why
Sample answer: Conflicting values: family/community service and financial responsibility/independence. I would prioritize family/community this time because the event supports family well-being and is a rare opportunity, but I’d plan extra hours later to meet financial goals.
Applying for a leadership role. Write a short pitch (2–3 sentences) that highlights one strength and one interest and explains why you’d be a good fit
I organize group tasks well and care about student wellness, so as club secretary I will create clear meeting agendas and coordinate two wellness events this year to increase participation
You witnessed a peer cheating on an important assignment. Describe a step-by-step plan for handling this that protects your integrity while considering safety and fairness
1) Don’t confront aggressively; 2) Talk privately to the peer to express concerns and encourage them to tell the teacher or redo the work; 3) If they refuse and the cheating harms others or the class, report it to the teacher with facts; 4) Avoid gossip.
Describe a personal plan with three concrete steps you would take over a month to build lasting confidence in a skill (ex., public speaking, math, sports).
1) Practice the skill 20 minutes every other day and track progress; 2) Get feedback weekly from a teacher or peer and apply one improvement each week; 3) Set three small measurable goals (e.g., deliver a 2-minute talk, solve five extra problems without help, make a consistent play) and celebrate each success
You’re nervous about trying out for a team and your self-talk keeps saying, "I always mess up." Write a detailed script (2+ sentences) of positive self-talk and concrete actions you’ll use immediately before the tryout.
I’ll tell myself: "I have prepared and I can do my best today." I’ll breathe slowly for 30 seconds to calm down, remind myself of one success (last practice where I improved), and focus on one skill to show rather than everything at once. If a mistake happens, I’ll say, "That’s one play — I’ll control the next one." I’ll smile, shake it off, and step in ready to try.