This has been a very busy and fast moving month! Students have learned what it means to be a "Flexible Thinker," and the types of thoughts they give others when they use flexible thinking. Flexible thinkers are people who can "go with the flow" and are open to other peoples opinions and ideas. Rigid thinkers are people who have a difficult time seeing other people's opinions, thoughts, ideas as having merit, and often have very strict ways of doing things (think about Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory and how he feels about his couch...and I will be referencing Big Bang Theory a LOT)!

Other topics covered include:

• "Expected and Unexpected Behaviors" in different environments (i.e., school, friends, school clubs, sports, family, work etc.)
• What type of thoughts communication partners have when they (the students) use “expected” and “unexpected” behaviors
• What type of feelings communication partners have when they (the students) engage in “expected” and “unexpected” behaviors.
• Topic Maintenance...an expected behavior (i.e., how not to "go off on a tangent")
• Asking the 5 “wh” and how questions
• Keeping comments short
• Am I adding a thought (on topic) or am I sharing an experience (off topic)?
• Size of thoughts
• Small thoughts are thoughts others have about you when you are using expected behaviors
• Medium thoughts are thoughts others have when you are doing something that is unusual for the situation, and;
• Large thoughts are thoughts others have about you when you are engaging in unexpected behaviors
• Asking for clarification during class
• When and How
• "Social Fake"
• Pretending to be interested in something that does not interest you
• Look at the person who is talking to you
• Matching facial expressions to the message
• Make positive comments and ask questions that will keep the conversation going.