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Confidence Quest

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edline.louis

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Confidence Quest Plan

Students will identify personal strengths and learn to challenge negative thoughts using CBT techniques, then set actionable confidence-building goals to increase motivation for school tasks.

Building confidence and motivation through CBT strategies helps the student overcome negative self-beliefs, enhances resilience, and supports academic engagement, aligning with individualized goals in the IEP.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Use CBT activities to identify strengths, reframe negatives, and set confidence goals.

Materials

  • Strengths Inventory Worksheet, - Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet, - Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet, and - Pens or Pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print copies of Strengths Inventory Worksheet, Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet, and Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet.
  • Arrange a private, comfortable seating area for the session.
  • Review the student’s IEP goals and recent work samples to personalize examples.

Step 1

Introduction and Rapport

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and ask about their recent experiences at school.
  • Explain that today’s focus is on building confidence and motivation through identifying strengths and managing negative thoughts.
  • Emphasize confidentiality and set a collaborative, supportive tone.

Step 2

Strengths Identification Activity

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Strengths Inventory Worksheet.
  • Prompt the student to list at least five personal strengths, past successes, and skills they feel proud of.
  • Discuss each entry, reinforcing positive self-perceptions and celebrating achievements.

Step 3

Cognitive Restructuring Exercise

10 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of negative versus balanced thoughts and how they influence feelings and motivation.
  • Provide the Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet.
  • Ask the student to recall a recent negative thought about school (e.g., "I always fail math").
  • Guide the student to challenge that thought by examining evidence and creating a balanced replacement statement.

Step 4

Goal Setting for Confidence

5 minutes

  • Present the Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet.
  • Collaboratively set 1–2 SMART goals for practicing positive self-talk or leveraging strengths in upcoming school tasks (e.g., asking a question in class, reviewing math problems).
  • Identify specific action steps and supports needed (e.g., reminders, check-ins).

Step 5

Reflection and Closing

3 minutes

  • Invite the student to share how they feel after the activities and what insights they gained.
  • Summarize the session’s key points and reinforce the student’s identified strengths and reframed thoughts.
  • Schedule the next session and assign between-session practice: using the balanced thought statement daily and reviewing goals.
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Worksheet

Strengths Inventory Worksheet

(Use this worksheet to identify and celebrate your personal strengths!)

1. Personal Strengths

List at least five qualities or traits you consider to be your strengths.

  1. ________________________________________________________





  2. ________________________________________________________





  3. ________________________________________________________





  4. ________________________________________________________





  5. ________________________________________________________





2. Past Successes

Think of three times when you accomplished something you’re proud of. Describe each briefly.
a. What happened?
________________________________________________________



b. What skills or strengths did you use?
________________________________________________________





3. Skills and Talents

List three skills or talents (academic or non-academic) that you enjoy using.

  • ______________________________________________________


  • ______________________________________________________


  • ______________________________________________________


4. Applying Your Strengths

How might you use at least two of these strengths to help you feel more confident in your school work?
________________________________________________________










lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet

(Use this worksheet to examine a negative thought and create a more balanced perspective!)

Instructions

  1. Think of a recent situation that led to a negative thought about school or yourself.
  2. Complete each section below to challenge and reframe that thought.

1. Situation

Describe what happened just before you had the negative thought.
________________________________________________________



2. Negative Thought

Write down the exact negative thought you had.
________________________________________________________


3. Feelings

What emotions did you feel? Rate how strongly you felt them (0 = not at all, 100 = extremely).

  • Emotion(s): ________________________________________


  • Intensity: _______/100

4. Evidence For the Thought

List facts or examples that seem to support your negative thought.
________________________________________________________









5. Evidence Against the Thought

List facts or examples that do not support or contradict the negative thought.
________________________________________________________









6. Balanced (Alternative) Thought

Based on the evidence you listed, write a more balanced or realistic statement.
________________________________________________________





7. New Feelings

How do you feel after creating this balanced thought? Rate intensity again.

  • Emotion(s): ________________________________________


  • Intensity: _______/100

Practice using your balanced thought whenever the original negative thought returns.

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet

(Use this sheet to set SMART goals for boosting your confidence and plan actionable steps for school success!)

1. My Confidence Goals (Choose 1–2)

Goal 1: What do I want to achieve?
__________________________________________________________





  • Specific: What exactly will I do?
    __________________________________________________________

  • Measurable: How will I know I’ve succeeded?
    __________________________________________________________

  • Achievable: How will I make sure it’s doable?
    __________________________________________________________

  • Relevant: How will this improve my confidence or school motivation?
    __________________________________________________________

  • Time-Bound: By when will I complete this?
    __________________________________________________________






    Goal 2 (Optional): What else do I want to achieve?
    __________________________________________________________





  • Specific:
    __________________________________________________________

  • Measurable:
    __________________________________________________________

  • Achievable:
    __________________________________________________________

  • Relevant:
    __________________________________________________________

  • Time-Bound:
    __________________________________________________________





2. Action Steps

List the steps you will take to reach your goal(s):

  1. ________________________________________________________

  2. ________________________________________________________

  3. ________________________________________________________

  4. ________________________________________________________





3. Supports and Resources

Who or what can help me with these goals? (Teachers, family, reminders, tools)
__________________________________________________________





4. Potential Obstacles and Solutions

What might get in my way? How will I handle it?

  • Obstacle: ____________________________________________________

  • Solution: ____________________________________________________





5. Motivation and Reinforcement

How will I stay motivated? (Rewards, self-talk, check-ins)
__________________________________________________________





6. Reflection After Completion

(Use this section once you’ve worked on your goal)

  • What went well?
    __________________________________________________________

  • What could I improve next time?
    __________________________________________________________

  • How do I feel about my confidence now?
    __________________________________________________________





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lenny

Slide Deck

Confidence Quest

A 30-minute CBT activity to identify strengths, challenge negative thoughts, and set confidence-building goals.

Welcome the student and set a supportive tone. Explain that this session, called the Confidence Quest, will help them recognize their strengths and use CBT techniques to boost confidence and motivation.

Today’s Agenda

• Strengths Identification
• Challenging Negative Thoughts
• SMART Goal Setting
• Reflection & Next Steps

Briefly walk through what you will do together: identify strengths, challenge negative thoughts, set goals, and reflect.

1. Identify Your Strengths

• What qualities or traits are you proud of?
• Recall 2–3 past successes and skills you used.
• How could you apply these strengths to your schoolwork?

(See Strengths Inventory Worksheet)

Hand the student the Strengths Inventory Worksheet. Ask them to list at least five personal strengths and past successes. Discuss each item to reinforce positive self-beliefs.

2. Challenge Negative Thoughts

• Describe the situation and negative thought.
• List evidence for and against the thought.
• Create a balanced alternative thought.

(See Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet)

Introduce the concept of balanced thinking. Give the Negative Thought Challenging Worksheet. Guide the student in describing a recent negative thought and examining evidence for/against it.

3. Set SMART Confidence Goals

• Specific: What exactly will I do?
• Measurable: How will I track progress?
• Achievable: Is this realistic?
• Relevant: How does it boost confidence?
• Time-Bound: When will I complete it?

(See Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet)

Explain the SMART goal framework. Use the Confidence Quest Reflection Sheet to set 1–2 specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals that leverage their strengths or balanced thoughts.

4. Reflection & Next Steps

• How do you feel after today’s activities?
• What will you practice this week?
• Reminder: Use your balanced thought daily and review your goals.
• Next session: [Date/Time]

Encourage the student to share how they feel and what they learned. Summarize key points: strengths, balanced thoughts, and their SMART goals. Assign daily practice using balanced thoughts and reviewing goals. Schedule the next session.

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