Choice Challenge Activity: Own Behavior
Updated: 1 hour ago
Choice Challenge Activity: Own Behavior #9
Now that you have read My Teacher Is Not an Octopus, reviewed the Choice Challenge blogs, and tried the activities from the book — here is more practice. Three activities per choice for the specific behavior. No timer. No one size fits all. Parents know their child(ren). Teachers know their students. Give each a try. Practice builds choice fitness.
When a child understands how to use the six choices, this leads to more fun. The choice becomes their own. The result is happier children, families, and classrooms.
These activities engage PILES. Physical, Intellectual, Language, Emotional, Social. They build teamwork. And they give a child the words to say, "I can do this."
The goal is not a timer. The goal is the choice becoming part of a child's internal dialogue. The words a child says to themselves when no one is watching.
The student will perform a desired better choice without being redirected or reminded.
Here are three ways to practice.
Activity 1: Apology Practice Circle
Goal: Practice how to make an apology
How to:
In a calm moment, sit in a circle.
Explain: "We are going to practice how to own our choices with the words 'I apologize for...'"
Use pretend examples:
"Joey, I apologize for yelling."
"Suzie, I apologize for grabbing the toy."
"Zach, I apologize for taking your crayon."
"Miss Patience, I apologize for eating the last cookie."
Encouragement supports embedding better choices. Example, making a decision to hurt someone’s body and feelings is a poor choice. Whether an accident or mistake an apology is a kind way to acknowledge the action. Owning a choice is kind and brave. Your behavior muscles grow stronger when you use words.
Activity 2: "Poor Choice / Better Choice" Sorting
Goal: Naming poor and better choices
How to:
Use a white or chalk board or create a reusable poster board. For white or chalk board you need a black- white board or white chalk board, green, and red marker or chalk. This board can be removed as needed. Having a permanent movable board is helpful. Here is how to make one.
For the reusable board, orange poster board. Add Velcro to the back of the words and board. Add Velcro to the board on each side. Try laminating the board and words. Or, use clear film if you do not have access to a large laminator. This helps protect the board for years of use. Add the Velcro after lamination.
Make two cards for words, such as hit, and short phrases, like:
"Hit." "Spit." "Use words." "Wait and take turn." "Throw."
At the very top write Choice Challenge.
Make two columns headed on the top by: Poor in red marker on the left side. Better in green on the right side.
The child matches the word to the choice. Share why this is a poor or better choice.
When the consensus is 100% with each choice the class or child at home is accountable to this decision moving forward. New words or phrases can be added to the board, as needed.
Having a permanent board is helpful that’s portable. It can be used indoors and out of doors. This allows for reminder activities and opportunities for children to explore naming choices with the word and practice.
Encourage: If a poor choice is made, you can apologize and choose a better one next time.
Activity 3: Story Rewrite
Goal: Show a poor choice can lead to a better ending.
How to:
Tell a short story:
"Joey grabbed the marker and yelled when someone asked to share."
Ask:
"What was the poor choice?"
"What could Joey apologize for?"
"What better choice could Joey make next time?"
Let the children "rewrite" the ending with better choices and an apology.
Guilt of conscience and guilt of choice
A child who acknowledges a choice hurt someone and makes amends is the goal.
A child who believes "I am the problem" is carrying guilt of choice. Shame becomes a part of the identity. The Choice Challenge helps dismantle what I did versus who I am.
If a child recognizes what they did is a poor choice or a mistake was made an apology is the next step if it involves someone else. The apology does not add shame. It gives the child a way to move from ideas like "I am bad" to "I made a poor choice, and here is what I will do different."
How the choices work together in this activity
The child who apologizes activates the choice Use Words (#2) to name the action. And before either child can speak, Breathe and Calm (#5) can happen to support both children being receptive to hearing the other during the three-step process.
Consider one moment: Joey spills paint on Suzie's paper.
Breathe and Calm (#5):
Both children take a breath. The pause keeps the moment from escalating.
Use Words (#2):
Suzie says: "Joey, I don't like when paint gets on my paper. It hurts my feelings."
Own Behavior (#3):
Joey says: "Suzie, I apologize for spilling paint on your paper. It was an accident. I bumped into the chair and it spilled.”
Rethink (#6):
Joey says: "I was not watching where I was walking. My better choice is keeping my eyes on my paint and where I need to put it."
One moment. Four choices working together.
See What is the Choice Challenge? Blog and Choice Challenge blogs one through six for extended definitions from My Teacher Is Not an Octopus for more ways to practice.
All six choices are a collaborative learning experience. They partner with each other on most occasions.
A simple takeaway
"I apologize for ___." This is the pattern to Use Words. Unlocking compassion and responsibility for an action that may or may not be intentional. Most times it is a mistake.
Children need consistent practice with this strategy before the skill becomes automatic.
Review:
What is the Choice Challenge? Blog and Choice Challenge blogs one through six for extended definitions from My Teacher Is Not an Octopus.
All six choices are a collaborative learning experience. They partner with each other on most occasions.
Children need consistent practice with this strategy before the skill becomes automatic.
Each child experiences social-emotional development at different speeds and levels. As a child uses the choices interacting with others, adjustments increase competency. The foundation through patience and practice builds behavior muscles.
Every time a child says "I apologize for ___" without being prompted, the skill is building. Filling gaps or holes, as explained in the blog What is the Choice Challenge? and the Choice Challenge guide, is practice. Practice builds choice fitness.
Choice Challenge Guide will be released in eBook and paperback. You will have the option to download for free by signing up or buy online. The choice is yours :)
About the author
Patience Filippo is a children's author, artist, educator, and veteran with decades of classroom experience. She created the Choice Challenge: Poor to Better Decisions for Everyday Behavior to help kids and grown-ups be better humans, one better choice at a time. The Choice Challenge is the framework behind My Teacher Is Not an Octopus, a self-regulating behavior management book for early learners. Begin at birth. Grow into lifelong learning.
Empowering happiness through literacy.
Find Patience online https://linktr.ee/askmisspatience
