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Are You Your Worst Critic?

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Lesson Plan

Self-Talk Detective Plan

Students will identify instances of negative self-talk, challenge those thoughts, and transform them into growth-oriented statements using a structured three-step framework.

Negative self-talk undermines confidence and limits potential. By recognizing and reframing these thoughts, students build self-awareness, resilience, and a growth mindset, supporting both academic and personal success.

Audience

10th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, modeling, collaborative practice, and personal reflection.

Materials

Detecting Negative Talk Slides, Inner Critic Quiz, Talk Transformation Workshop, and Positive Affirmation Builder

Prep

Review Lesson Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Inner Critic Quiz

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Inner Critic Quiz to each student.
  • Students complete the quiz individually, identifying recent examples of their own negative self-talk.
  • Debrief by inviting a few volunteers to share one insight or surprising discovery.

Step 2

Direct Instruction: Detecting Negative Talk

10 minutes

  • Project the Detecting Negative Talk Slides.
  • Define negative self-talk, discuss common patterns, and explain its impact on mindset.
  • Model a think-aloud: read a sample negative thought, identify it, and walk through the reframing process.
  • Introduce the three-step framework: 1) Identify the negative thought, 2) Challenge its accuracy, 3) Replace with a growth-oriented statement.

Step 3

Activity: Talk Transformation Workshop

20 minutes

  • Students pair up and receive slips with sample negative self-talk statements.
  • Using the Talk Transformation Workshop guide, each pair:
    • Identifies the core negative thought.
    • Questions the evidence for and against it.
    • Crafts a clear, growth-oriented replacement statement.
  • Teacher circulates to prompt deeper analysis and provide support.
  • Each pair shares one original and one reframed statement with the class.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Positive Affirmation Builder

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Positive Affirmation Builder template.
  • Students write a personal affirmation, applying the three-step framework to their own self-talk.
  • Volunteers read their affirmations aloud.
  • Encourage students to display their affirmations where they can see them daily.
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Slide Deck

Detecting Negative Self-Talk

Your inner dialogue affects how you feel and what you do. Let’s learn to spot and shift negative self-talk.

Welcome students! Today we’re exploring how our inner voice can work for or against us. Emphasize that everyone experiences self-talk.

What Is Self-Talk?

• Self-talk is the internal conversation you have with yourself
• It can be positive, neutral, or negative
• Shapes your emotions, beliefs, and actions

Define self-talk clearly and invite students to think of times they’ve heard these thoughts. Keep it interactive.

Examples of Negative Self-Talk

• “I’m such an idiot.”
• “I’ll never get this right.”
• “No one likes me.”
• “I always mess up.”

Share a few anecdotes of each example to illustrate. Ask students if they’ve experienced any.

Common Patterns

  1. All-or-Nothing Thinking
  2. Overgeneralization
  3. Catastrophizing
  4. Personalization

Explain each pattern. Encourage students to raise hands if they’ve fallen into these patterns.

Impact of Negative Self-Talk

• Lowered confidence and motivation
• Increased stress and anxiety
• Avoidance of challenges
• Limits growth opportunities

Discuss short-term vs. long-term impact. Relate to academic performance and mental health.

Three-Step Reframing Framework

  1. Identify the negative thought
  2. Challenge its accuracy
  3. Replace with a growth-oriented statement

Introduce the three-step framework. Project this slide before delving into details.

Step 1: Identify

• Notice critical or harsh inner statements
• Write down the exact negative thought
• Be specific and honest

Focus on step 1. Model identifying a thought from today’s warm-up quiz.

Step 2: Challenge

• Ask: “Is this thought 100% true?”
• Look for facts against the thought
• Consider other perspectives

Focus on step 2. Prompt students: What evidence supports or contradicts this thought?

Step 3: Replace

• Create a balanced, growth-oriented statement
• Use “I can” or “I will” phrasing
• Keep it realistic and encouraging

Focus on step 3. Provide a sample replacement: “I’m learning and improving with practice.”

Practice Example

Negative Thought: “I always fail tests.”

  1. Identify: “I fail every test.”
  2. Challenge: “I’ve passed some tests and learned from mistakes.”
  3. Replace: “I can improve my grades by studying and asking for help.”

Walk through this example as a class. Then transition to the workshop activity.

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Warm Up

Inner Critic Quiz

Take a few minutes to reflect and jot down your exact thoughts in response to each prompt. Be honest—these insights will help you spot patterns in your self-talk.

  1. Recall a recent moment when you felt you didn’t measure up (in school, sports, friendships, etc.). What did you say to yourself?






  1. Think of a time you worried someone was judging you. What negative phrase ran through your mind?






  1. Describe a challenge or task you avoided. What did your inner critic tell you about your abilities?






  1. Remember a moment when you compared yourself to someone else. What self-critical statement popped up?






  1. Identify a word or short phrase you often use to criticize yourself (e.g., “stupid,” “worthless,” “hopeless”). Write that word or phrase and give an example of when you used it recently.






When everyone is finished, we’ll share a few examples to see common patterns and set the stage for shifting these thoughts into more supportive messages.

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Activity

Talk Transformation Workshop

In this activity, you and your partner will practice the three-step reframing framework using sample negative self-talk statements. Each pair draws one slip from the collection of Sample Negative Thoughts. Then, complete the chart below for your statement.

Steps:

  1. Identify: Write down the exact negative thought.
  2. Challenge: List evidence that supports or contradicts the thought.
  3. Replace: Craft a balanced, growth-oriented statement.
Sample Negative Thought (from your slip)1. Identify (Exact Thought)2. Challenge (Evidence For / Against)3. Reframed Statement

When you and your partner have completed the chart, be prepared to share:

  • The original negative thought
  • One key piece of evidence that challenged it
  • Your reframed, growth-oriented statement

Sample Negative Thoughts (cut into slips)

  • “I’ll never get this right.”
  • “No one likes me.”
  • “I’m terrible at sports.”
  • “I always mess up.”
  • “I can’t handle this workload.”
  • “I’m not as smart as everyone else.”
  • “I’m such an idiot.”
  • “I’ll fail if I try.”

Use these slips to challenge unhelpful self-talk and practice transforming your inner critic into a supportive voice.

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Cool Down

Positive Affirmation Builder

Now that you’ve practiced reframing negative self-talk, it’s time to create your own personal affirmation. Use the three-step framework below to guide your reflection and craft a statement that supports your growth and confidence.

1. Identify – What negative thought do you want to transform?







2. Challenge – List evidence that shows this thought isn’t 100% true. What facts or experiences contradict it?







3. Replace – Craft a balanced, growth-oriented affirmation using “I can” or “I will” phrasing.












My Personal Affirmation:
(Write the exact statement you’ll use daily to reinforce a positive mindset.)







Display Idea: Place your affirmation somewhere visible—on your mirror, in your locker, or as a phone reminder—to keep your growth mindset front and center each day!

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