Social skills
Cooperative learning
Sample Looks like Sounds like Feels like charts

 

Group working together, collaboration, or cooperation

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels Like
Heads together Let's get started.
We can do this.
Wow! we are accomplishing something.
Sitting Close together with everyone able to make eye contact by only moving their heads. Could you help us with this? Other students are listening to my suggestions.
Eyes on activity We need to... I can really learn when I listen.
Pointing to material Next, lets... It's good to learn from other students.
Looks at clock Can we talk about that later. I understand better when I talk about my ideas.
Passing materials to someone else. Look at this. I feel more confident when we agree to an idea.
On edge of chair How much time is left? When we work together we accomplish more.
A lot of leaning forward Let's move on. When we share our different ways of understanding it helps us all to understand more.
Eye contact Any other suggestions.  
Smiles You do that and I'll do this.  
Open body language We're halfway there.  
  We're almost done.  
  Thank you  
  What if ...  
  So really we could ...  
  Clapping, high fives, good idea, good job, good question, good thinking, way to think,  
  Does that make sense?  
  What do you have?
What do you think?
 

 

Getting Back to Work

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels Like
Point to materials We need to get back to work. Oh. Yes. Thanks for the reminder.
Tap on desk What can we do next? Dang. We have a lot to do and not much time.
Look the people in the eye Let's go on. Pressure...
Point to the directions Let's skip this and go on for now. Relief there is ____ time left.
Hand motions Where are we now?  
Pass materials Let's keep going.  
Pointing to the clock I think we are off track.  
  We should talk about that later.  
  We only have ____ minutes left.  
  We need to all concentrate.  
  Do wee need to start over?  
  Lets' do that later.  

 

Disagree Politely

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Lean toward the person Let me suggest another idea. Tense
Eye contact I see what you're saying. Want to avoid the situation.
Wrinkle nose Consider this. Want to ask for help.
Open body language That's one way to look at this... We worked it out before, we can again.
  Ask for clarification.  
  I don't agree.  
  I have a different idea.  
  I would agree with that if...  
  I can not go along with that.  

 

Watching the Time

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Looking at the clock We have five minutes Being pressured to get done.
Point to watch How much more time? Feeling relieved that we seem to be on schedule or ahead of schedule.
Motion to hurry We're running out of time.  
Looking at directions We're wasting time.  
  Let's move on and come back to that later.  
  We're ahead of schedule.  
  We need to move along.  
  Look at the clock.  
  Let's make a plan.  
  Hurry up.  
  Go on.  
  How much time can we spend on each part?  

 

Respond to Ideas

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Sit up Good idea. Disappointed that an idea won't work or others have different ideas.
Learn forward Good point. Feels good when everyone agrees.
Make eye contact I like that idea. Thanks. Feels good to have your suggestions considered.
Thumbs up I disagree. Feels better when your ideas are used.
OK sign I don't understand. Feels good to see ideas are successful.
Smile or frown Explain that to me.  
Puzzled look What about...  
Fist bump That part we can use.  
Clapping That sounds great, but I don't think we have the time or resources to be able to do it.  
  What do we all think about that?  
  Way to think.  

 

Help Without Giving the Answer

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Leaning together. Where did you start to have trouble? Solving a problem.
Pointing to problems. What do you think comes next? Frustrating when not know how to help without telling.
Handing materials. What do you understand?  
Pointing to materials. Explain it to me.  
Writing How did you do that?  
Drawing Remember when...  
Manipulating objects. What if you did this...  
  Do you want a hint?  
  Asking questions.  
  Where are you?  

 

Ask for Information and Opinions

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Outstretched hand What do you think? Wonder if others are understanding. in agreement.
Leaning in How do you feel about ... Nervous that others may disagree.
Eye contact Is there something more? Wonder if others are in agreement.
Squinting Explain what you mean. Relieved
  Tell me more. Encouraged
  I'm curious about... Irritated
  What about...  
  Does anyone else have an opinion?  
  What else applies?  

 

Reduce Tension

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Make the "time-out" signal. Can we start from where we agreed? Tense
Smile Can we compromise on this? Want to avoid the situation.
Sitting down, relaxing ... Maybe we all need to take a deep breath. Want to ask for help.
Shaking head Time out! We worked it out before, we can again.
Calm down gesture Let's not get carried away.  
Wink Can we work together to resolve this?  
  It's OK to disagree. Can we move on?  
  Let's keep calm.  
  What are you upset about? Can I help?  
  Is it possible to do both?  
  Remember what we do when we have a conflict.  
  How can we make this a win-win?  

 

Show Appreciation

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Smile Thank you. Good to be acknowledged.
Wink That was nice. Good to appreciate another person.
Pat You helped when... Good to be recognized as a contributing member of the group.
Touch I appreciated it when... Feel accomplished.
Nod I couldn't have done it without you.  
Thumbs up I liked the way you...  
High five It really helped when...  
  Way to think.  
  You are making me feel accomplished.  

 

Check for Understanding

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Eye contact Explain that. Wondering if everyone has the same understanding.
lean forward How did you get that? Wondering if I understand what the others understand.
Group involvement Can you show me? Wonder if others in the group are thinking the same as me.
  Give me an example.  
  Tell us how to do it?  
  How would you explain it?  
  What do you have?  
  What do you think?  
  Does that make sense?  

 

Share Feelings

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Smiles or frowns I feel because Wonder if others are in agreement.
Arms folded I wish... Nervous that others may disagree.
Excited face Let me tell you how I feel about this. Glad
Tears How do you feel about .... Relieved
High fives Do we all feel that way? Encouraged
    Irritated

 

Invite Others to Talk

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Lean toward the person. What do you think? Nervous that others may disagree.
Sitting Close together. How do you feel about this? Glad to be asked for your ideas.
Encouraging hand movements. Do you want to share? Relieved someone spoke up.
Smile Your turn. Encouraged
Eyes on person. Tell us about it. Irritated
  How would you do it?  
  What do you feel?  
  Please give us your ideas.  
  Let's each tell what we think.  
  Anyone want to add to that?  
  You haven't said anything yet.  

 

Check for Agreement

Looks Like

Sounds Like

Feels like
Thumbs up. Do you agree? Nervous everyone might not agree.
OK sign. Did you get that? Happy everyone is in agreement.
Head nods. Is that OK with you?  
  Did we all get the same answer?  
  How many agree?  
  Shall I write it now?  

 

Criticize the Idea Not the Person

Looks Like

Sounds Like Feels like
Body moving forward I'm unsure about what you said. Nervous someone might be upset.
Smiles Could we add more to that idea? Relieved someone spoke up.
Non-angry expression. I disagree with the part about... Disappointed an idea was rejected and needs to be replaced or modified.
Touch on shoulder. Maybe if we changed this... Glad to find an idea that might insure success.
  I like this part. If we would change this...  
  I think the ideas needs a little work.  
  Let's look at that a little closer.  

 

Summarize

Looks Like

Sounds Like

Feels like
One person will be talking at a time. Short conclusions. We are almost done.
Writing thoughts. Let's review what we have. We are getting done.
Listening The main purpose is... Needing to make sure one last time.
  So what we've said so far is... Confident everyone is on the same page.
  At this point we are...  
  Would you all agree on this conclusion...  
  Our key idea seems to be...  
  This is what we agree to so far.  

 

Contributing Ideas

Looks Like Sounds Like Feels like
Taking turns I have an idea. Feels good to have your suggestions considered.
Raising hands. What about... Feels good when everyone shares their ideas.
Showing materials. try this... Feels better when your ideas are used.
  I think we should... Feels good to see ideas are successful.
  How about this?  
  What if we...  
  We could...  
  My idea is...  
  Good thinking.  

 

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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