“Listen to Your Language”

Divide the class in half: Tell one half they will be Proactive and the other half is

Reactive. Read the following statements aloud. Tell the students to write a

response that is either Proactive or Reactive. After writing the responses, read

them aloud and discuss.

1. You walk into the school in the morning. A teacher calls out to you, “Good morning.” (respond)

2. As you walk down the hall, a student is wearing some new shoes that you really want, but can’t

have. (respond)

3. A friend whose team beat your team on Saturday is talking about the game. (respond)

4. Your teacher asks you if you remembered to bring in the note you were supposed to have

signed and you forgot. (respond)

5. In one of your classes, another student is given a leadership role that you really wanted.

(respond)

6. Your brother was not good in math. Your mom was not good in math. Now you, too, are

struggling with math. (respond)

7. You go to lunch. None of the choices look good. (respond)

8. In P.E., you are playing a game and the teacher makes a call that you think is wrong. (respond)

9. You hear one of your best friends bad-mouthing you. (respond)

10. There’s a new student in your class. Some of your friends are making fun of him. (respond)

Challenge students to be aware of their responses for one day. Are their responses more Proactive or

Reactive?