Heidi teaches social skills to some of the kids at our school. In the class, they use the terms "expected" and "unexpected" to describe behaviors. It is supposed to be a value-free way of describing someone's actions, based on reading the social situation and cues. Screaming and yelling and jumping might be unexpected in a science lab, but they would perfectly acceptable and expected at, say, a soccer game.
To introduce the concept, Heidi comes into the class and slams the door, throws a few things on the floor, and then lays her head down on the table. The students are usually stunned at first, and then Heidi has them tell how they felt when she behaved in such an unexpected way. She has done this lesson for years, and I always enjoy hearing how kids I know reacted to her antics. The things they say are funny and revealing. "I didn't even want to look at you!" one student said. "I didn't know what was so wrong!"
This year, though, there was a first. "I need to speak to you in the hallway!" a little girl told her, hands on hips, which was a very expected reaction... if you're a teacher!
To introduce the concept, Heidi comes into the class and slams the door, throws a few things on the floor, and then lays her head down on the table. The students are usually stunned at first, and then Heidi has them tell how they felt when she behaved in such an unexpected way. She has done this lesson for years, and I always enjoy hearing how kids I know reacted to her antics. The things they say are funny and revealing. "I didn't even want to look at you!" one student said. "I didn't know what was so wrong!"
This year, though, there was a first. "I need to speak to you in the hallway!" a little girl told her, hands on hips, which was a very expected reaction... if you're a teacher!
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