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Anxiety Busters: Speak Up!

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Lesson Plan

Anxiety Busters: Speak Up!

Students will be able to identify common signs of anxiety related to classroom participation and learn at least two strategies to manage anxiety and increase their verbal contributions.

Understanding and managing anxiety around participation helps students feel more confident, share their valuable ideas, and fully engage in their learning journey. This skill is vital for academic success and personal growth.

Audience

8th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Discussion and practical strategy application.

Materials

One-on-one discussion with teacher, Whiteboard or notebook for notes, and Anxiety Busters: Speak Up! Slide Deck

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review the Anxiety Busters: Speak Up! Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and discussion points.
  • Ensure a quiet space for a one-on-one discussion with the student.
  • Have a whiteboard or notebook ready to jot down notes or ideas during the session.

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

3 minutes

  • Begin by welcoming the student and creating a comfortable, private setting.
  • Teacher Script: "Hi [Student's Name], thanks for meeting with me. We're going to talk a little bit today about something many students experience: feeling nervous or anxious about speaking up in class. It's totally normal, and my goal today is to give you some tools to feel more comfortable sharing your thoughts. Does that sound okay?"
  • Discussion: Ask the student what comes to mind when they hear "classroom participation" and if they ever feel hesitant to speak up. Acknowledge and validate their feelings.

Step 2

Understanding Anxiety

4 minutes

  • Teacher Script: "Let's look at some common ways anxiety can show up when we're thinking about speaking in class." (Refer to Anxiety Busters: Speak Up! Slide Deck - Slide 2)
  • Discuss physical sensations (e.g., racing heart, shaky voice), thoughts (e.g., "What if I'm wrong?"), and behaviors (e.g., avoiding eye contact).
  • Question: "Have you ever noticed any of these feelings or thoughts when you've wanted to speak in class? Which ones resonate with you the most?"

Step 3

Strategies for Speaking Up

5 minutes

  • Introduce practical strategies. (Refer to Anxiety Busters: Speak Up! Slide Deck - Slide 3 and Slide 4)
  • Teacher Script: "Great, now let's think about some ways we can 'bust' that anxiety! One really effective strategy is 'Prep & Practice'. This means preparing what you want to say, even just a sentence, and practicing it in your head or quietly to yourself."
    • Strategy 1: Prep & Practice: Encourage the student to formulate a sentence or two before raising their hand.
  • Teacher Script: "Another powerful strategy is 'Start Small, Build Big'. You don't have to give a long speech right away. Maybe start by agreeing with a classmate, or asking a clarifying question."
    • Strategy 2: Start Small, Build Big: Discuss low-stakes ways to participate (e.g., thumbs up/down, agreeing, asking a simple question).
  • Activity: Have the student identify one or two specific strategies they feel they could try in their next class.

Step 4

Setting a Goal & Wrap-Up

3 minutes

  • Teacher Script: "So, looking ahead to our next class, what's one small goal you could set for yourself to try and participate?"
  • Encourage the student to commit to trying one strategy.
  • Teacher Script: "Remember, it's a process, and every small step counts. I'm here to support you. Let's check in again soon to see how it's going."
  • Conclude with positive reinforcement and offer continued support.
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Slide Deck

Anxiety Busters: Speak Up!

Strategies for Confident Classroom Participation

  • It's okay to feel nervous
  • We'll find ways to help your voice be heard!

Welcome the student and explain the purpose of the session. Emphasize that it's a supportive conversation.

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Thoughts like:

  • "What if I'm wrong?"
  • "Everyone will stare at me"
  • "My voice will shake"

Physical sensations:

  • Racing heart
  • Sweaty palms
  • Tight throat
  • Feeling flushed

Discuss common physical and mental signs of anxiety when it comes to speaking in class. Ask the student if any of these resonate with them.

Strategy 1: Prep & Practice

Don't wing it!

  • Think before you speak: What's one point you want to make?
  • Formulate a sentence: Even just 1-2 sentences.
  • Practice in your head: Or quietly under your breath.

Introduce the first strategy: preparing what to say. Give examples of how to do this simply.

Strategy 2: Start Small, Build Big

Baby steps are still steps!

  • Agree/disagree with a thumbs up/down.
  • Ask a clarifying question.
  • Echo a classmate's good point.
  • Build on someone else's idea (e.g., "I agree with [Name] and I'd add...").

Introduce the second strategy: starting with low-stakes participation. Provide concrete examples.

Your Voice Matters!

  • You have valuable ideas to share.
  • Practice makes progress.
  • I'm here to support you!

What's one small goal you can set for yourself?

Conclude by encouraging the student to pick one strategy to try and reiterate your support. Emphasize that progress is key, not perfection.

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