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The Homework Cycle:

(About Cognitive Behavioral Theory with negative/positive thoughts)

Parts:

• Dad
• Student with negative thoughts: Cindy
• Students: Leyden, add others as needed
• Teacher
• Narrator

Scene I

Leyden, Cindy are sitting in seats as students.   

Teacher: This is a car.  The car has wheels.  It moves forward at 45 mph.  Would it move faster with bigger wheels?  Or smaller wheels? What about if it had octagon wheels?  

Student w Negative Thoughts(NT): Raised hand in an unconfident way, not being too sure she wants to raise her hands.  

Teacher: Yes, Cindy?  What do you think the answer is?

Student with NT:(Cindy) Um….. calcium?

Negative thought: Wow.  That was a weird answer.

Teacher: Um….well, good try.  Let’s look at this again.  Would it move faster with bigger, smaller, or octagon wheels?

Student (Leyden): raised hand EXTREMELY confidently.  The car that would move the fastest is with small wheels.  

Teacher: Leyden, that is VERY right!  PERFECT.

Teacher: Ok, students, the bell is going to ring.  But, before you go, here is your homework.

Perfect Student (Leyden): Confidently and quickly raises his hand.

Teacher: Yes, Leyden?

Student (Leyden): Confidently I’m just wondering if there is a limit on how much we can write.  

Teacher: Thank you for asking.  I only need one page, double spaced.

Student (Leyden): Okay, I would like to write 10 pages single spaced.  I’ll have it to you by tomorrow.

Narrator:

FREEZE!!!!

What’s going on?  Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?  Why?

What happens when you think negative thoughts?  What happens when you think positive?

UNFREEZE!!

 

Scene II

Student is sitting in the chair, NOT doing homework, but doing something else.

Dad:  “What do you have to do for homework?”

Negative thought: Oh no.  NOT homework!!!

Student (Cindy): “I have no homework”

Negative Thought: I can’t do my homework now.  I have too much.

Positive Thought: DOH!  I just LIED to my dad!    

Dad: What do you mean, NO homework?  You have homework every night.

Negative Thought: Ugh.  Homework is useless.

Positive Thought: Well….I need to do better in school. Homework is actually important.  I need to learn these things for life.

Student (Cindy): Yeah, I did it already.  Ugh….I did it at school?

Dad: Open your bookbag.  I want to see it.

Negative Thought: Oh no.  He’s going to see it!

Positive Thought: My dad’s just being supportive.  I just need to get it done and I’ll be relieved.

Student (Cindy): Oh.  Sorry…I do have homework.  

Dad: Get to work.

Negative thought: THIS is going to take FOR-EV-ER.

Positive Thought: If I focus, it won’t be too long.  I actually really liked my last assignment.  I might like this one too.

Student (Cindy): Working hard to get work done.  Finishes. Stretches.

Positive thought: Wow!  That wasn’t too bad.

Student (Cindy): Looking at paper I think I actually did well!

 

Scene III:

Teacher: Meets dad and Cindy at edge of stage. Welcome to parent teacher conferences.  Have a seat.

Student (Cindy): showing she is thinking.  Looking to left for negative thoughts, to right for positive thoughts.

Negative thought: Parent Teacher conferences are dumb.

Positive thought: Parent teacher conferences are important.  It will help me be a better student, and better in life.

Dad: So, Mr. Monty, How is Cindy doing in school?

Teacher: Cindy is doing well right now.  I have seen some improvements.

Positive thought:  That’s good, he’s talking about me doing better….

Student: I am doing better.  I’ve really been trying more.

Negative thought: Wait for it…….

Teacher: Well……there, for the first half of the quarter, Cindy, you did not do well at all.

Negative thought: Of course, he had to bring it up.

Positive thought: That’s part of the process sometimes, then ya notice the failures and learn from them.  Look at me! I’m doing SO much better.

Student (Cindy): I know, but, I’m really proud of how I’m doing now.  Thank you so much for helping me, Mr. Monty.

Positive thought: That wasn’t bad!  Finally! A good conference!

Teacher: No problem, Cindy.  Anytime.

Dad: Mr. Monty, thank you for meeting with us.  Standing up, looks in teacher’s eyes, and confidently/happily shakes Mr. Monty’s hand.

Teacher: My pleasure. Walks parent and student to edge of stage.  Have a good night.

Student (Cindy), Negative/Positive Thoughts, and Dad: You too!

Dad: Good job, Cindy.  However, I can’t wait to go home to play video games.