Building Self-Advocacy Skills

Kyle Ryan

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Building Self-Advocacy Skills

Develop self-advocacy through coping strategies

This lesson is a 30-minute individual counseling session aimed at helping a 10th-grade student develop self-advocacy skills by implementing coping strategies to reduce anxiety. The session will include a discussion to catch up on recent events, an activity to practice coping strategies, and a quiz to assess understanding. This lesson is important as it provides the student with practical tools to manage anxiety, enhancing their ability to advocate for themselves in various situations.

Audience

10th Grade Virtual Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Collaborative Learning, Inquiry-Based Learning, Experiential Learning, Blended Learning, Active Learning

Materials

Discussion Guide, Coping Strategies Worksheet, Self-Advocacy Quiz, and Reflection Journal

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Greet the student and establish a comfortable environment.
Briefly review the purpose of the session: to work on self-advocacy skills by using coping strategies.
Explain the structure of the session: discussion, activity, quiz, and reflection.

Step 2

Discussion

10 minutes

Use the Discussion Guide to catch up on recent events in the student's life.
Discuss any recent instances where the student felt anxious and how they handled it.
Encourage the student to share their thoughts on self-advocacy and coping strategies.

Step 3

Activity

10 minutes

Introduce the Coping Strategies Worksheet and explain its purpose.
Guide the student through identifying situations that cause anxiety and selecting appropriate coping strategies.
Encourage the student to practice one strategy during the session.

Step 4

Role-Playing Exercise

10 minutes

Set up a role-playing scenario where the student must advocate for themselves in a challenging situation.
Provide guidance and feedback as the student navigates the scenario.
Discuss what strategies worked well and what could be improved.

Step 5

Feedback Session

5 minutes

Provide constructive feedback on the student's performance during the role-playing exercise.
Highlight strengths and areas for improvement.
Encourage the student to ask questions and reflect on the feedback.

Step 6

Quiz

5 minutes

Administer the Self-Advocacy Quiz to assess the student's understanding of coping strategies.
Discuss the answers and provide feedback to reinforce learning.

Step 7

Reflection Journal

5 minutes

Provide the student with a Reflection Journal to write about their learning experience.
Encourage them to reflect on what they learned about self-advocacy and coping strategies.
Discuss any insights or thoughts they wish to share.

Step 8

Closure

5 minutes

Summarize the key points discussed and practiced during the session.
Encourage the student to apply the coping strategies in real-life situations.
Set a follow-up session to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed.

Discussion

Discussion Guide

A guide to facilitate a discussion on recent events and self-advocacy skills.

What recent events have caused you anxiety?

Encourage the student to reflect on specific situations and their emotional responses.

How did you handle these situations?

Discuss the strategies used and their effectiveness.

What does self-advocacy mean to you?

Explore the student's understanding and personal definition of self-advocacy.

Worksheet

Coping Strategies Worksheet

A worksheet to help the student identify anxiety-inducing situations and appropriate coping strategies.

List three situations that make you feel anxious.

Think about school, social settings, or personal challenges.

Choose a coping strategy for each situation.

Consider strategies like journaling, positive self-talk, or taking a break.