diff --git a/components/chat.tsx b/components/chat.tsx
index 18a9957..ff85597 100644
--- a/components/chat.tsx
+++ b/components/chat.tsx
@@ -1574,7 +1574,7 @@ export function Chat({
 							// applies.
 							nextProblem={nextReady}
 							onNext={sendNext}
-							placeholder={nextReady ? "Ask about this problem — or press Enter for the next one…" : undefined}
+							placeholder={nextReady ? "Ask anything, or press Enter for the next one." : undefined}
 						/>
 					}
 					onSubmitAnswer={(output) => {
diff --git a/components/practice-dock.tsx b/components/practice-dock.tsx
index ca2f53b..e4ed501 100644
--- a/components/practice-dock.tsx
+++ b/components/practice-dock.tsx
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export function PracticeDock({ problemCallId, input, expanded, onExpand, onSubmi
 							submit();
 						}
 					}}
-					placeholder="Work here — say as much of your thinking as you have."
+					placeholder="Work here, think out loud."
 					rows={4}
 					className={cn(
 						"field-sizing-content lh-input max-h-64 min-h-16 w-full resize-none bg-transparent px-2.5 pb-2 outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground",
diff --git a/components/question-dock.tsx b/components/question-dock.tsx
index 24b4e74..22fcc83 100644
--- a/components/question-dock.tsx
+++ b/components/question-dock.tsx
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ function QuestionDockForm({
 									submit();
 								}
 							}}
-							placeholder="Why this answer? What are you unsure about? Say as much as you like — the teacher reads all of this."
+							placeholder="Why this answer? Whatever comes to mind."
 							rows={1}
 							className={cn(
 								"field-sizing-content lh-input max-h-48 w-full resize-none bg-transparent px-2.5 py-2 outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground/70",
diff --git a/components/reading-thinking.tsx b/components/reading-thinking.tsx
index 0691c3e..a2c86b5 100644
--- a/components/reading-thinking.tsx
+++ b/components/reading-thinking.tsx
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export function ReadingThinkingField({
 						e.currentTarget.blur();
 					}
 				}}
-				placeholder="What are you thinking as you read? Say as much as you like — it rides your next check answer to the teacher."
+				placeholder="Whatever comes to mind as you read."
 				rows={1}
 				className="field-sizing-content lh-input max-h-40 w-full resize-none bg-transparent outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground/70"
 			/>
diff --git a/tests/render-cards.test.tsx b/tests/render-cards.test.tsx
index 7e2209c..c4ad9d2 100644
--- a/tests/render-cards.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/render-cards.test.tsx
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ describe("render smoke tests", () => {
 		// INSIDE the dock — never called optional, inviting the dump.
 		assert.ok(html.includes('data-testid="thinking-field"'), "thinking field present");
 		assert.match(html, /YOUR THINKING/, "labeled as the learner's voice (all caps, owner round 3)");
-		assert.match(html, /Why this answer\? What are you unsure about\?/, "placeholder invites, not apologizes");
+		assert.match(html, /Why this answer\? Whatever comes to mind/, "placeholder invites, not apologizes (owner, placeholder round 2026-10-07)");
 		assert.ok(!html.includes("optional"), "the field is never called optional");
 		assert.match(html, /Submit answer/, "send becomes Submit answer");
 		assert.match(html, /↵ submits · ⇧↵ newline/, "the standard chord is discoverable (owner round 5)");