As educators, it’s essential to help our high school students develop the ability to be aware of their own actions and the actions of others around them. This skill, known as being tuned in, allows students to adapt their behavior to different situations and settings, ensuring that their actions fit the context and do not upset or make others uncomfortable. In this blog post, we will introduce an easy no-prep activity to teach students how to be tuned in, along with discussion questions and related skills.

Introduction

Being tuned in involves three main steps: looking at what’s happening right now, thinking about the time and place, and considering one’s actions and their potential impact on others. By teaching students to be more tuned in, we can help them develop better social awareness and build stronger relationships with their peers. This skill is an essential aspect of Social-Emotional Learning, as it helps students become more empathetic and respectful of others’ feelings.

No-Prep Activity: The Tuned In Challenge

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator and serves as an excellent way to help students practice being tuned in. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
2. Ask each group to come up with a common scenario that takes place in a high school setting (e.g., a group project, lunchtime, or a sports event).
3. Each group will then role-play the scenario, with one student acting as the observer. The observer’s role is to identify moments when the other group members are not being tuned in and to suggest how they could adapt their actions to better fit the situation.
4. After the role-play, the observer will share their feedback with the group, and the group will discuss how being more tuned in could have improved the situation.
5. Rotate the observer role among the group members and repeat the process with different scenarios.

This activity encourages students to think critically about their own actions and the actions of others, helping them develop a greater understanding of how to be more tuned in.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some common situations in which it’s important to be tuned in? Why?
2. How can being tuned in help you build stronger relationships with your peers?
3. What are some challenges you might face when trying to be more tuned in? How can you overcome these challenges?
4. How does being tuned in relate to other Social-Emotional Learning skills?
5. What strategies can you use to remind yourself to be more tuned in during your daily life?

Related Skills

Being tuned in is closely related to other essential Social-Emotional Learning skills, such as:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and showing empathy.
• Self-awareness: Understanding one’s own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Self-regulation: Managing one’s emotions and behaviors in different situations.
• Social awareness: Recognizing and understanding the feelings and perspectives of others.

Next Steps

Teaching high school students the skill of being tuned in is an essential part of fostering a positive learning environment and promoting healthy relationships among peers. To access free sample materials on this skill and others, be sure to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and activities to help your students develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.