Change Ready? Coping Strategies Worksheet

1. Warm-Up

1. Describe one SMALL change you’ve experienced recently (e.g., a different seating chart):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Describe one BIG change you’ve experienced recently (e.g., a new teacher or deadline change):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. My Coping Strategies

Below are three strategies we practice. Fill in your own examples for positive self-talk and clarifying questions.

• Deep Breathing
• Positive Self-Talk: _"Write one phrase you can say to yourself when you feel upset:"




• Asking Clarifying Questions: _"Write one question you can ask if you’re unsure what’s happening:"

3. Big vs. Small Changes Scenarios

For each scenario below:
a) Circle whether it’s a BIG or SMALL change.
b) List two strategies you could use.

1. A substitute teacher leads your math class.
   BIG / SMALL
   Strategies: 1) ___________ 2) ___________
   
   
   
   

2. Your project deadline is moved up by two days.
   BIG / SMALL
   Strategies: 1) ___________ 2) ___________
   
   
   
   

3. Your group partner is switched right before the activity.
   BIG / SMALL
   Strategies: 1) ___________ 2) ___________
   
   
   
   

4. Transition Practice Log

Think about when we moved from one activity to the next and when we changed locations.

Transition 1: End of activity ➔ Next task
Strategy used: ___________
How I felt (circle one): Calm / Neutral / Upset

Transition 2: Changing location (e.g., moving to a reading corner)
Strategy used: ___________
How I felt (circle one): Calm / Neutral / Upset

5. Reflection & Look-Ahead

1. One thing that worked well today:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. One thing I want to try differently next time:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Think about Minute Man High School. Name two possible changes you might face and a strategy for each:
   a) Change: ___________ Strategy: ___________
   
   
   
   b) Change: ___________ Strategy: ___________
   
   
   

Great work being Change Ready! Remember to use your strategies whenever you notice a schedule or assignment change.

Change Ready? Lesson Script

Warm-Up (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Hi there! Today, we’re going to work on being Change Ready. We’ll use this worksheet to help us. Let’s look at the first section together.”

Teacher: “Can you tell me about one small change you’ve experienced recently? For example, a different seating chart or a surprise partner change.”
(Wait about 10 seconds. Give encouraging nod.)

Teacher: “Great! I heard you say ____________________. I’m going to jot that down.”

Teacher: “Now, can you tell me about one big change you’ve experienced recently? Maybe a new teacher or a deadline moving up.”
(Wait about 10 seconds.)

Teacher: “Awesome—thanks for sharing. You said ____________________. Nice work!”

(Have student write both answers in Section 1 of the Change Ready? Coping Strategies Worksheet. Give praise: “Thank you for those thoughtful answers!”)

Strategy Review (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Next, we’ll review three strategies you can use when things change. You may already know these: deep breathing, positive self-talk, and asking clarifying questions.”

Teacher: “First, let’s practice deep breathing together. Place one hand on your belly. Breathe in slowly for four seconds… (inhale 1…2…3…4)… now breathe out for four seconds… (exhale 1…2…3…4). That’s one breath. Let’s do three breaths.”
(Model and count softly. Encourage student.)

Teacher: “Excellent job! Now, let’s think of a positive self-talk phrase you could say when you start to feel upset. It might be something like ‘I can handle this’ or ‘I’m calm and ready.’ What’s one phrase you’d like to try?”
(Wait about 10 seconds.)

Teacher: “I like that—‘____________________.’ I’ll write it here.”

Teacher: “Finally, a clarifying question can help if you’re not sure what’s happening. For example, you might ask, ‘Could you please explain that again?’ What’s one question you could ask?”
(Wait about 10 seconds.)

Teacher: “Great question: ‘____________________.’ I’ll record that in Section 2. Fantastic work!”

Role-Play Big vs. Small Changes (7 minutes)

Teacher: “Now, let’s look at three change scenarios in Section 3. For each, I want you to circle BIG or SMALL and then pick two of our strategies.”

1. “A substitute teacher leads your math class.”
2. “Your project deadline is moved up by two days.”
3. “Your group partner is switched right before the activity.”

Teacher: “Let’s start with Scenario 1. Is this a big change or a small change?”
(Wait about 5 seconds.)

Teacher: “Which two strategies will you use?”
(Wait another 5 seconds; coach as needed.)

Teacher: “Perfect. Now we’ll role-play. I’ll be the substitute teacher: ‘Hello! I’m filling in today…’ Show me how you would respond using your strategies.”
(Allow student to act out. Offer minimal prompts: “Good—that’s your breathing.”)

Teacher: “Awesome calm response! I’m proud of you.”

(Repeat for Scenarios 2 and 3. Aim for at least 4 out of 5 correct identifications and strategy uses.)

Transition Practice (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Next, we’ll practice moving calmly from one activity to another. First: ending this activity and starting a new one.”

Teacher: “When I say ‘switch,’ I want you to show me one strategy right away—no more than one prompt from me. Ready?”

Teacher: “Switch!”
(Observe student. Note if strategy is used and if they stay calm or neutral.)

Teacher: “Great job using ____________________. You look calm!”

Teacher: “Second, imagine we’re moving to the reading corner. On ‘go,’ use a strategy again.”

Teacher: “Go!”
(Observe second transition. Offer a discreet signal if needed.)

Teacher: “Well done! I saw you use ____________________, and you stayed calm.”

Reflection & Closure (4 minutes)

Teacher: “You did an amazing job today. Let’s finish in Section 5.”

Teacher: “First, what is one thing that worked really well for you today?”
(Wait about 10 seconds. Record in worksheet.)

Teacher: “Second, what’s one thing you’d like to try differently next time?”
(Wait about 10 seconds. Record.)

Teacher: “Now, let’s think about Minute Man High School. What’s one possible change you might face there, and which strategy will you use?”
(Wait about 10 seconds; record.)

Teacher: “How about a second possible change and strategy?”
(Wait about 10 seconds; record.)

Teacher: “You did a fantastic job practicing being Change Ready! Remember to use these strategies whenever you feel uneasy about change. I’m proud of your hard work today!”