Expectation Exploration: Friend & Student Power-Up!
Students will identify at least two classroom expectations. Students will explain how following expectations helps them be a good friend. Students will explain how following expectations helps them be a good student. Students will practice appropriate responses to common classroom scenarios, demonstrating cooperative and social skills.
Understanding and following classroom expectations is crucial for creating a positive learning environment. This lesson helps students connect these expectations to their social-emotional development, fostering better friendships, improving cooperative skills, and enhancing their ability to learn effectively.
Small group of Elementary School Students (Tier 2 intervention)
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a role-playing game to reinforce learning.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up: Behavior Detectives
5 minutes
- Begin with the Behavior Detectives Warm-Up.
- Engage students in a brief discussion about good choices they observe in the classroom.
- Ask: "What kind of good choices do you see happening in our classroom? What does that look like?"
Step 2
Introduction & What Are Expectations?
5 minutes
- Display Expectation Power-Up Slides (Slide 1 & 2).
- Teacher Script: "Today, we're going on an 'Expectation Exploration' to learn how following our classroom rules can power up our skills to be great friends and super students! What do you think 'expectations' mean?"
- Guide discussion using the slide points, emphasizing that expectations are shared agreements that make the classroom fair and fun. Use visuals to support understanding.
Step 3
Why Do We Have Them? (Connecting to IEP Goals)
5 minutes
- Display Expectation Power-Up Slides (Slide 3).
- Teacher Script: "Why do we even have expectations? How do they help us?"
- Discuss how expectations help students learn, stay safe, and be kind. Explicitly connect to IEP goals:
- Cooperative Skills: "When we share and take turns, we're showing great cooperative skills!"
- Social Skills: "Using kind words and listening shows fantastic social skills for making friends."
- Coping Skills: "Sometimes it's hard to wait, but following the expectation to raise our hand helps us use our coping skills to be patient."
- Emphasize that these skills are important for being a good friend and a good student.
Step 4
Expectations = Super Friend & Super Student!
5 minutes
- Display Expectation Power-Up Slides (Slide 4 & 5).
- Lead a discussion on how specific expectations (e.g., listening, sharing, kind words) make them a good friend. (Connect to social and cooperative skills).
- Lead a discussion on how other expectations (e.g., being ready, working quietly, raising hand) make them a good student. (Connect to focus and coping skills).
- Use the visual prompts on the slides.
Step 5
Scenario Time: What Would You Do?
5 minutes
- Display Expectation Power-Up Slides (Slide 6 & 7).
- Present the scenario: "Imagine your friend has the toy you want. The expectation is to take turns. What do you do?"
- Allow students to discuss the options. Guide them to explain why certain choices are better, linking back to being a good friend and student, and using their coping skills (e.g., patience, asking politely).
- Reiterate the importance of turn-taking and respectful communication (social skills, cooperative skills).
Step 6
Activity: Expectation Action Game
5 minutes
- Transition to the Expectation Action Game.
- Explain the rules and begin playing. This game provides hands-on practice for demonstrating expected behaviors in various scenarios, reinforcing social and cooperative skills.
