Strategy Card Handout Strategy Card
Impulse Control Toolkit
1. STOP
• Pause immediately when you notice an urge to react.
• Take one or two slow, deep breaths.
• Give yourself a moment to step back.
2. THINK
Ask yourself:
• What just happened?
• What are my options right now?
• What could happen with each choice?
3. ACT
• Choose the most thoughtful response.
• Carry out your choice calmly and respectfully.
• Notice how you feel after you respond.
"Pause before you react. You are in control."
STOP THINK ACT
Stop Think Act Lesson Plan Stop, Think, Act
Impulse Control Tier 3 Intervention
90 MINUTES
Why This Matters
Impulse control is critical for academic engagement and positive social interactions. Teaching the Stop-Think-Act strategy helps students with ADHD develop self-regulation skills, reduce impulsive behaviors, and build confidence.
Teacher Prep
Print & review Strategy Card.
Print Trigger Identification Worksheet.
Print Self-Monitoring Chart.
Print Pause Plan Template.
Gather timer and colored markers.
Materials Needed
Strategy Cards
All Worksheets
Timer / Stopwatch
Colored Pens
Target Audience
7th Grade Student (Tier 3 ADHD Support)
Session Objective
Empower the student to apply the Stop-Think-Act strategy for impulse control by identifying personal triggers, practicing self-monitoring, and creating a personalized pause plan.
Instructional Steps
01
Introduction to Strategy
10 MIN
Introduce the Stop-Think-Act card and model a scenario.
Reference: Strategy Card Handout
02
Trigger Identification
20 MIN
Guide student to list situations, emotions, and thoughts that prompt reactions.
Reference: Impulse Trigger Worksheet
03
Guided Practice
30 MIN
Role-play real-life situations and record observations on the monitoring chart.
Reference: Self-Monitoring Chart
04
Personalized Pause Plan
20 MIN
Collaborate on a step-by-step plan including calming strategies like deep breathing.
Reference: Pause Plan Template
05
Reflection & Next Steps
10 MIN
Set goals for the upcoming week and schedule a follow-up check-in.
Reference: Cool Down Reflection
Stop Think Act Slides Stop, Think, Act
Impulse Control Strategy Session
7th Grade 90 Minutes
Session Objectives
Understand impulse control
Learn the Stop-Think-Act steps
Identify your personal triggers
Practice self-monitoring
Create a personalized pause plan
Which one sounds most useful to you today?
What Is Impulse Control?
Impulse control is the ability to pause before reacting.
It helps us make thoughtful choices and avoid hasty decisions that might have negative consequences.
Introducing Stop-Think-Act
STOP
Pause and take a breath.
THINK
Consider the situation and possible responses.
ACT
Choose and carry out the best response.
Identify Your Triggers
Using your Impulse Trigger Worksheet , list 3 situations or emotions that lead you to act impulsively.
1
2
3
PROMPT
"What makes you react before you can even think?"
Self-Monitoring Practice
We use the Self-Monitoring Chart to track how we use the strategy in real-time.
The Trigger Situation
Your Choice (STOP/THINK/ACT)
Outcome & Reflections
Practice Scenarios
Scenario 1
A friend borrows your pen without asking.
STOP THINK ACT
Scenario 2
You get a low grade on a homework assignment.
STOP THINK ACT
Scenario 3
A classmate makes a distracting noise nearby.
STOP THINK ACT
Create Your Pause Plan
Step-by-Step
Top Trigger
STOP strategy
THINK prompts
ACT options
Calming techniques
This is your personal roadmap for success.
Reflection & Goals
Think back:
What worked well today?
What was challenging?
This Week's Goal:
Write your goal here...
Next Steps
Keep materials accessible
Practice daily
Schedule follow-up
Impulse Trigger Identification Worksheet Trigger Detective
Impulse Trigger Identification Worksheet
Name:
Date:
1. Identify Your Triggers
List 3 situations or feelings that make you want to react without thinking:
1
2
3
2. Your Usual Reaction
For each trigger above, describe how you typically respond in that moment:
R1
R2
R3
3. Consequences
What happens after this reaction? How does it affect you and others?
4. Warning Signs
What sensations (racing heart, tight jaw) tell you a reaction is coming?
5. Plan to Pause
Trigger Chosen:
STOP
THINK
ACT
Tip: Keep this worksheet handy and review it when you notice your warning signs.
Self Monitoring Chart Worksheet Self-Monitoring Chart
Tracking My Stop-Think-Act Success
Student:
Date:
Use this chart to log your practice. For each situation, record when it happened, what triggered you, how you paused, what you thought about, and the final result.
# Date / Time Trigger The Pause (STOP) Choices (THINK) Action (ACT) 1 Outcome & Reflection: 2 Outcome & Reflection:
Keep your Strategy Card nearby to help you fill this out!
STOP THINK ACT
Pause Plan Template Worksheet Pause Plan
My Personal Strategy for Success
Student
Goal Date
1. Target Trigger
Describe the situation or feeling that leads to impulsive reactions:
2. STOP
My pause action:
3. THINK
My focus questions:
4. ACT
Response options:
5. Calming Techniques
1
2
3
6. Plan Reminder
Where will you keep this plan?
How will you remind yourself to pause?
Review and practice this plan daily to strengthen your "pause muscle!"
Stop Think Act Script Facilitation Script
Stop, Think, Act Intervention
Session Duration
90 MINUTES
This script is designed for a 1-on-1 session. Text in bold is meant to be spoken aloud. Text in [brackets] provides instructional cues or slide references.
1. Intro to Stop-Think-Act
10 MIN
[Display Slide 1: Stop, Think, Act]
"Hi there! I’m glad we have this time together. Today, we’re going to learn a simple three-step strategy called Stop-Think-Act that helps you pause before you respond to tough situations. By the end of our session, you’ll know how to use it whenever you feel a strong urge to act."
[Advance to Slide 2: Session Objectives]
"Our goals today are to understand what impulse control is, learn the steps of our strategy, and identify your personal triggers. Which of these sounds most useful to you?" [Pause for student response]
[Advance to Slide 3: What Is Impulse Control?]
"Impulse control is the ability to pause before you react. It's like having a remote control for your brain. Can you tell me about a time you reacted without thinking? What happened?" [Listen and validate the student's experience]
[Advance to Slide 4: Introducing Stop-Think-Act]
[Hand student the Strategy Card Handout]
"Meet your Strategy Card. Here’s how it works: 1. STOP: Pause and take a breath. 2. THINK: Consider the situation and your options. 3. ACT: Choose and carry out your best response."
2. Identifying Triggers
20 MIN
[Advance to Slide 5: Identify Your Triggers]
[Hand student the Impulse Trigger Identification Worksheet]
"Next, let’s find out what situations make you want to react without thinking. On this worksheet, list three situations or feelings that prompt you to act quickly. For example, maybe you shout when you’re frustrated with homework."
"Take your time writing those down. Now, for each one, how do you usually react? What thoughts go through your head right before it happens?"
3. Guided Practice
30 MIN
[Advance to Slide 6: Self-Monitoring Practice]
[Hand student the Self-Monitoring Chart]
"Now we’ll practice Stop-Think-Act using some sample scenarios. On this chart, we’ll record the trigger, what you did to STOP, what you thought during the THINK phase, and how you chose to ACT."
Cool Down Reflection Worksheet Cool Down Reflection
Session Wrap-up & Goal Setting
Name:
Date:
1. What are the three steps of Stop-Think-Act?
1. STOP
2. THINK
3. ACT
2. Which personal trigger will you focus on this week?
3. Your STOP Action:
4. Your THINK Question(s):
5. Your ACT Choice(s):
6. Specific Goal for This Week
Example: "I will use Stop-Think-Act once each day when I feel frustrated in Math."
7. Where will you keep your strategy card and plan?
Practice daily and be ready to share your progress at our next check-in!
