Sam fails his test and thinks he will never be good at math. Is this rigid or flexible thinking? What could he do?
Rigid. He could use positive self talk, study more, take deep breaths
Tina's friend, Teresa didn't say hi back when she said hi to her. Tina thinks Teresa must hate her. Is this rigid or flexible thinking? What can Tina do?
Rigid! Talk to Teresa, ask why she didn't say hi
Jeremy lost a piece to his favorite Lego set. Name two flexible thinking strategies for this
answers vary
Lexi always eats lunch with Alice, but she's not here today. Lexi thinks how lonely she will be and worries she will never see her friend again. Is she being rigid or flexible? What could she do?
Rigid. Lexi could eat with someone else. She could call Alice after school.
Alan takes his favorite model car to school to show his friends. Tim says it looks stupid. Alan ignores Tim and talks to his friends. Is Alan being rigid or flexible? Explain
answers vary
What is positive self talk?
Telling yourself "I've got this!" "I can do this" "I'll do better next time"
Name 3 coping skills
Answers vary
Chad tried out for the swim team, and didn't make it. He thinks, "I'll practice more and maybe I'll make it next time." What coping skill is Chad using?
Positive self-talk
Ellen doesn't like her new haircut. She cries she hates her hair and says she's never going out in public again. Is she being rigid or flexible?
Rigid
Ellen tells her mom and her best friend she will never go in public again because of bad haircut. How might her mom feel? How might her best friend feel?
Mom- annoyed, disappointed, worried BFF- worried, sad
Fred screams at his mom because he doesn't want to do his homework. Name two things a flexible thinker would do instead
ask for help, to take a break, answers vary
Name a time that you were rigid. What could you have done instead?
answers vary
Name a time that you used flexible thinking. How did it make others feel?
answers vary
