What Were You Thinking?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

What Were You Thinking? By Bryan Smith and illustrated by Lisa M. Griffin is a MUST have for any elementary classroom. This book was originally published in 2016 by Boys Town Press.

This picture book focuses on Braden, a third-grade boy that loves to make jokes and be the center of attention. Braden struggles to control his impulses and will often act without thinking. Braden’s teacher guides him to make appropriate choices by teaching him a simple technique. Before he does or says something, Braden’s teacher wants him to ask himself, “Will this make the situation better or worse?”

My partner teacher and I used this book as part of our morning meeting a couple of weeks ago in our fourth-grade classrooms. Since then, we have noticed several students recognizing that their actions made the situation worse. Some students have even begun to catch themselves before they act impulsively! I can’t thank this book enough for providing the language kids need in order to take control of their actions. Amazon affiliate link below.