No Excuses!

1. No Excuses!

2. Let’s get it started!

3. It’s common for kids to try to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, especially when the outcome is a negative one. • Often kids believe that if they project blame onto someone or something else, this relieves them of the need to admit a mistake, as well as the need to solve the problem.

4. On your sheet of paper… • Please write down three excuses that you have used recently.

5. Let’s try a little activity • There will be an excuse on the board and then let’s try and come up with a way that re-state the excuse in a way them demonstrates taking responsibility.

6. It broke

7. She made me do it.

8. I can’t find it

9. He started it.

10. She was doing it, so I did it, too.

11. I can’t do it.

12. Discussion Questions • Why do we use excuses? • When you use a responsible statement, who is in control? • Is it easier to make excuses or responsible statements? Why? • Is it better to take responsibility and accept consequences or make an excuse to avoid consequences? Why? • How can accepting responsibility help improve your schoolwork or your relationship with your friends?

13. Let’s wrap this up!