Discussion Questions:
- What is Joseph having trouble with at school?
His lunch is being stolen by Martin; he’s scared to eat his lunch in the lunchroom - How does Joseph eventually get help?
By eventually telling the principal - Does Joseph tell Mr. Tate directly at first?
No, he tells indirectly by asking for the supply room key - What could Joseph do if Mr. Tate didn’t realize something was wrong?
Joseph could try to tell Mr. Tate more directly what was happening if he felt comfortable doing so
He could try and tell another trusted adult - Why is it important to communicate clearly exactly what you want to say?
In order for the other person to understand what you need; to get the help you need - Does Joseph get the help he needs? How? Is this a good choice?
Yes he does by telling Mr. Tate exactly what happened
Yes, this is a good choice because it solved his worry - Could Joseph’s friends do something to help in this situation?
Yes, they could get help for Joseph from a trusted adult
They could also encourage Joseph to get help from a trusted adult - When Joseph tells, who does he help?
Himself, other kids who may be having similar problems, Martin because he needs support from adults to figure out why he is making poor choices - Whose job is it to protect kids?
It is an adult’s job to protect kids - Name two adults you would go to if you have a problem or worry
Remind students that they get to decide who they would want to go to for help - Why do you think we have asked you to choose two adults to go to for help?
In case one is not available or cannot help the way you need it, you have a back-up plan; also mention that the student can choose more than two if they would like - If the first adult you go to cannot help you, what should you do?
Turn to another trusted adult and ask for help again; keep trying and never give up until you get the help you need - What if the next adult chosen still cannot help you?
Choose someone else; keep telling until you get the help you need
Note for Facilitators:
For Question 10, spend some time helping children identify a general list of potential trusted adults kids can go to for help before asking them specifically about the two adults they would choose. This may be especially important for the younger grades as it gives them a framework
For children who cannot identify two adults, make sure to follow up with them after the session and explore who they can potentially choose as their two adults