Empower Your Voice

Sydney Menard

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Empower Your Voice

Self Advocacy in the classroom

This lesson focuses on teaching 7th-grade boys the importance of self-advocacy in the classroom, with a particular emphasis on asking for help. Through a combination of video, discussion, and a worksheet, students will explore strategies to express their needs and opinions effectively. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students to take charge of their learning and communicate confidently with teachers and peers.

Audience

7th grade boys

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Inquiry-Based Learning, Active Learning

Materials

Video: How to Be More Confident, Worksheet: Asking for Help Strategies, and Discussion: Self-Advocacy in Action

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what self-advocacy means, focusing on asking for help.
Ask students if they have ever needed to ask for help in class and how it felt.

Step 2

Video Viewing

5 mins

Show the video How to Be More Confident.
Encourage students to note down key points on how to be assertive, especially when asking for help.

Step 3

Guided Discussion

10 mins

Discuss the video and ask students to share their thoughts on the strategies mentioned for asking for help.
Use the discussion questions from the attachment to guide the conversation.

Step 4

Worksheet Activity

7 mins

Distribute the "Asking for Help Strategies" worksheet.
Have students complete the worksheet individually, focusing on how they can apply these strategies in their own classroom experiences.

Step 5

Closure

3 mins

Invite a few students to share their worksheet responses.
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to practice asking for help in their daily school life.

Discussion

Self-Advocacy in Action

This discussion will help students reflect on the importance of self-advocacy, particularly in asking for help, and how they can apply it in their classroom experiences.

What does self-advocacy mean to you, especially in terms of asking for help?

Encourage students to think about situations where they needed to ask for help.

Why is it important to ask for help in the classroom?

Discuss the benefits of asking for help, such as improved understanding and confidence.

What are some challenges you might face when asking for help?

Explore potential obstacles and how to overcome them.

Worksheet

Asking for Help Strategies

This worksheet will guide students in identifying and applying strategies for asking for help in their classroom experiences.

List three situations where you might need to ask for help in the classroom.

Think about times when you need clarification, assistance, or a different approach.

What are two strategies you can use to effectively ask for help from a teacher?

Consider using 'I' statements and being specific about your needs.

Reflect on a time you successfully asked for help. What did you do well?

Think about your communication style and the outcome.