Size of the Problem

Introducing “Size of the Problem” at the elementary level is a great way to help students solve problems independently and strengthen social skills. As students learn to identify emotions in themselves and others, it is a good idea to start the conversation about how we respond to situations when we are upset. Sometimes students have difficulty determining the appropriate response to big and small problems especially if they’ve had big reactions modeled for them for all types of problems.

Size of the Problem helps students identify the appropriate reaction to match the severity of a problem. When students have a common language to describe their problems and reactions, they can better identify solutions.