Thinking Errors
Blaming
Something to consider…..
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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The yellow slides are not intended to be shown to students. They provide suggestions and additional information for the presenter.
Yellow slides can be skipped when presenting to students.
Also, these lessons contain a lot of information. This is intentional so the presenter can pick and choose the slides that best fit the group of students and the time requirements.
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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It is important to intentionally discuss with the students that their brains are still developing. It is possible to change the brain for the better!
All the executive functioning, thinking errors, and social-emotional learning lessons end on this note.
While useful in school, these are life-long skills. These lessons are intended to support positive changes in the brain while it is still developing.
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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These lessons were developed to be compatible with the Pear Deck add-on for Google Slides.
Pear Deck functionality is not available in the preview slides, but you do not need Pear Deck to use the lesson plans with your students.
To receive a copy of this lesson to use with your Pear Deck account you can click on the link below the preview window.
General Lesson Reminders
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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- Arrival Welcome: set a positive tone; provide a sense of recognition, create an emotionally safe place, communicate respect, let students know they matter and are welcome.
- Announcements: connect students to larger school community, promote effective student to school communication, encourage students to take positive actions individually or as a group.
- Acknowledgements: greet each other by name, make positive connections with their peers, build communication skills, contribute to positive classroom community.
- Activity: includes all students,is active and engaging, promotes students’ sense of cooperation and responsibility.
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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Presenters may want to consider:
Have you ever thought about your thoughts? I mean, have you actually ever paid attention to the thoughts inside your head? If you have, then have you ever questioned how you are thinking about things, and whether or not these thoughts are actually helping or hurting you? Possibly how you’re seeing and interpreting your world isn’t very accurate at all. Just maybe your perspective of the world is somewhat flawed and this is preventing you from moving forward in an optimal way. These flaws in our thinking are known as thinking errors (or cognitive distortions).
Thinking Errors
Thinking errors are faulty patterns of thinking that are self-defeating. They occur when the things you are thinking do not match up with reality. Those who commit thinking errors often don’t realise they are doing so.
Thinking errors are things we do or say that make excuses for our behavior and/or allow us to avoid taking responsibility for making a bad choice.
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Understanding and recognizing thinking errors helps us know when we are about to make a bad choice that could hurt ourselves or others.
Thinking Errors
Students: please keep the following expectations in mind as we go:
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Understanding and recognizing thinking errors helps us avoid making a bad choice that could hurt ourselves or others.
To assign (place) responsibility for a fault or wrong.
When you blame others for something you did or said
When you make someone else responsible for your actions or thoughts.
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Blaming: What is it?
Someone is always doing something to us and we ignore all our responsibility
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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One reason we engage in blaming is a blindness to our own power to change situations.
Another reason is that there could be a familiarity or laziness in complaining that our uncomfortable emotions are someone else’s fault.
You do not accept your part in a given situation
Blaming others and outside circumstances for your shortcomings, discomfort, pain
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Blaming: What can it look like?
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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Presenters may want to conder:
Imagine taking your driver’s test.
If you pass, then you likely make it an internal reason- I studied hard, I'm actually a good driver naturally...
But if you fail the test, suddenly there’s an external reason- the weather was bad, it wasn't the car I usually drive, I didn't get enough sleep...
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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Some videos to consider. You should pre-view all videos to determine if they are appropriate for the students you are addressing.
Brene Brown on blaming (3:25) https://youtu.be/RZWf2_2L2v8
This is one is more of an English lesson about blame, blaming, to be to blame but goes through the definition of blame (2:26) https://youtu.be/JGRh1h4uaNw
Instructional Notes
Yellow slides do not need be shown to students.
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Presenters may want to consider:
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I’m failing because the teacher doesn't like me.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I was late for work today because my sister didn’t fill up the gas tank yesterday.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I was late to class because I didn’t realize there was a two hour early dismissal.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I know I overreacted; I just feel like everyone hates me.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
The dog ate my shoes because I forgot to feed him this morning.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I knew traffic was going to be bad- I should have left the house earlier.
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
I can’t believe my younger sister knocked over that glass of water sitting by my computer
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
What did I say that made you so angry with me?
Drag your dot to indicate whether you are taking responsibility or are blaming others.
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Drama
Let me tell you all the ways in which you are wrong.
Reflection Time-
Can you think of a time when you blamed someone else for something bad happening in your life?
How did you find yourself in this situation? What events, decisions or factors led to this moment?
What questions can I ask myself (and of others) to understand what’s happening?
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Thinking Errors and Resilience
Remember, resilience is when you are able to recover from difficulties; think of mental and physical toughness.
Resilient people tap into their strengths and support systems to overcome challenges and work through problems.
Thinking Errors and Resilience
How does recognizing blaming as a thinking error help you become more resilient?
You can Train your brain!
Your brain is still developing; you can change it! �This skill is not just a ‘school’ skill. �The effort you put into this skill will help you the rest of your life.
Did you find this useful?
If you did, please consider donating to the
Mountain View High School Foundation’s
Scholarship Fund.
For details, see Our Story on the homepage.
Thanks!