Lesson Plan
Finding My Voice
To create a supportive classroom environment that encourages a 1st-grade student with selective mutism and emerging English skills to gradually increase her comfort and confidence in speaking and decrease her fear of making mistakes.
This lesson helps all students understand the importance of a safe and encouraging space for communication, fostering empathy and creating an inclusive classroom where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts, especially those who are shy or learning a new language.
Audience
1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussions, visual aids, and low-stakes speaking activities.
Prep
Review Materials & Set Up
10 minutes
- Review the Finding My Voice Lesson Plan, Finding My Voice Slide Deck, and Teacher Script: Finding My Voice to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
- Prepare the classroom for the activities, ensuring space for small group interaction if desired.
- Print or display the Speaking Stars Warm-Up and My Comfort Zone Activity materials.
- Have markers or pencils readily available for student use.
- Prepare the Voice Level Cool-Down for the end of the lesson.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Speaking Stars
5 minutes
- Begin with the Speaking Stars Warm-Up. Ask students to think about times they feel comfortable speaking.
- Encourage a few volunteers to share their 'speaking stars' briefly (e.g., "I speak loudly when I'm playing with my dog!").
- Introduce the idea that everyone has different comfort levels with speaking.
Step 2
Introduction & Discussion (Slides 1-3)
7 minutes
- Use the Finding My Voice Slide Deck to introduce the topic of different ways we communicate and how we feel about speaking.
- Follow the Teacher Script: Finding My Voice to guide the discussion, focusing on creating a safe space.
- Emphasize that it's okay to feel shy or to be learning a new language. We all communicate in different ways.
Step 3
Activity: My Comfort Zone
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Comfort Zone Activity worksheet.
- Explain the activity: students will draw or write about places/situations where they feel most comfortable speaking and those where they feel a little nervous.
- Reassure students that there are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to understand that everyone's comfort zone is different.
- Circulate and offer individual support, especially for students with emerging English skills, using visuals and gestures.
Step 4
Sharing & Reflection (Slides 4-5)
5 minutes
- Invite students to share one thing they drew or wrote on their My Comfort Zone Activity if they feel comfortable. Emphasize that sharing is optional.
- Use the Finding My Voice Slide Deck to reinforce the idea of a supportive classroom and how we can help each other feel brave.
- Discuss strategies like patience, listening, and offering help.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Voice Level Check
3 minutes
- Conclude with the Voice Level Cool-Down.
- Ask students to show on their fingers or quietly reflect on what 'voice level' they felt they used today (from a quiet whisper to a regular speaking voice).
- Reiterate that all efforts to communicate are valued and that we'll continue to practice being brave with our voices.
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Slide Deck
Finding My Voice: Speaking Stars!
Let's discover how we all communicate and make our classroom a super safe space to share!
Welcome students. Explain that today we'll talk about how we use our voices and how to help everyone feel brave.
Many Ways to Communicate
We use our voices, our hands, our faces, and even our drawings to share our thoughts! Every way is a good way to communicate.
Ask students: How do we talk to each other? Guide them to think beyond just speaking – gestures, drawing, writing, smiling. Emphasize that all communication is good communication.
Speaking Comfort Zones
Sometimes we feel super brave with our voices!
Sometimes we feel a little shy.
And sometimes, we're learning new words, so it takes a bit more time.
Introduce the idea of feeling comfortable. Ask: Do you always feel the same about talking? Sometimes we feel brave, sometimes shy. It's totally normal!
My Comfort Zone Activity
Let's think about where and when we feel comfortable speaking. Draw or write in your worksheet!
Explain the activity: My Comfort Zone. Show a quick example. Emphasize that they can draw or write. Reinforce that there are no right or wrong answers, just what feels true for them.
Our Super Safe Classroom
Our classroom is a place where we all help each other.
We listen with our ears and our hearts.
We are patient and kind.
We make everyone feel brave to share their voice!
After the activity, invite optional sharing. Reinforce that our classroom is a space where everyone's voice and communication style is valued. How can we help our friends feel brave?
Script
Teacher Script: Finding My Voice
Introduction (Before Slide 1)
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going on an exciting adventure to discover how we all share our ideas and make our classroom an super special place for everyone. Have you ever noticed that we all communicate in different ways?"
Warm-Up: Speaking Stars (Refer to Speaking Stars Warm-Up)
"Let's start with our 'Speaking Stars' warm-up! I want you to close your eyes for a moment and think about a time when you felt really, really comfortable and happy to use your voice. Maybe it was singing your favorite song, or telling a story to your pet, or playing with your best friend. Where do you shine like a speaking star?"
"(Pause for reflection) Now, if you feel comfortable, can a few friends share their 'speaking star' moments? What's a time you felt great using your voice?"
(Listen to 2-3 volunteers. Affirm all responses, e.g., "That's a wonderful speaking star moment!")
"That's great! We all have times and places where our voices feel extra strong and happy. And sometimes, in other places, our voices might feel a little bit shy, and that's okay too!"
Slide 1: Finding My Voice: Speaking Stars! (Display Finding My Voice Slide Deck - Slide 1)
"Look at our first slide! Today's lesson is called 'Finding My Voice: Speaking Stars!' We're going to explore how we communicate and how we can make our classroom the best place for everyone to feel brave and share their thoughts. We want everyone to feel like a speaking star!"
Slide 2: Many Ways to Communicate (Display Finding My Voice Slide Deck - Slide 2)
"Wow, look at all these different ways to communicate! Who can tell me some of the ways we see people sharing their ideas on this slide? (Point to images if available, or describe.)"
(Allow students to respond: talking, drawing, writing, sign language, smiling, body language.)
"That's right! We use our voices, our hands, our faces, and even our drawings to tell people what we're thinking or how we're feeling. And guess what? Every single one of these ways is a good way to communicate! If you're learning a new language, you might use more pictures or gestures, and that's super smart!"
Slide 3: Speaking Comfort Zones (Display Finding My Voice Slide Deck - Slide 3)
"Now, let's talk about our 'speaking comfort zones.' Just like the slide says, sometimes we feel super brave with our voices! Maybe when we're playing a game, or talking to our family."
"But sometimes, we might feel a little shy. Maybe when we have to stand up in front of everyone, or when we're not sure of the answer. Has anyone ever felt a little shy to speak up? (Pause for nods or quiet acknowledgements.)"
"And for some friends, especially if they're learning new English words, it might take a little extra time to find the right words, and that's perfectly okay. We want everyone to feel safe to try."
Activity: My Comfort Zone (Refer to My Comfort Zone Activity)
"Now it's your turn to think about your own speaking comfort zones! I'm going to give you a worksheet called 'My Comfort Zone Activity.' On this paper, I want you to draw or write about places or situations where you feel most comfortable speaking. Where is your voice happy and loud?"
"Then, on the other side, think about places or times when you feel a little nervous or shy to speak. It's okay to have both! There are no right or wrong answers here. This is just for you to think about how you feel."
"If you're still learning English, you can draw lots of pictures! I will walk around to help everyone. Take your time, there's no rush."
(Circulate, offer praise, provide support, and clarify instructions as needed, especially for the student with selective mutism and emerging English skills. Use gestures and simple language. For the target student, you might quietly say, "It's okay to draw your ideas," or "Show me with your pencil what makes your voice happy.")
Sharing & Reflection (Display Finding My Voice Slide Deck - Slide 4 then 5)
"Alright, friends, take a moment to finish up your drawings or writing. Would anyone like to share one thing they put in their 'comfortable speaking' zone? Remember, you only share if you feel comfortable. No pressure at all."
(Invite 1-2 volunteers to share briefly. If the target student looks at their paper or points, acknowledge their non-verbal communication with a gentle smile or nod.)
"It's so interesting how we all feel differently! And that brings us to our next slide. (Transition to Slide 5)"
Slide 5: Our Super Safe Classroom (Display Finding My Voice Slide Deck - Slide 5)
"Look at this! Our classroom is a special place where we all help each other feel safe and brave to share. How can we be good listeners? (Elicit responses: 'quiet bodies,' 'eyes on speaker,' 'don't interrupt.')"
"Yes! We listen with our ears and our hearts. We are patient and kind, and we never make fun of anyone's voice or how they communicate. When we do these things, we make everyone feel brave to share their voice, no matter how quiet or loud it is, or what language they are speaking!"
"Remember, every time you try to communicate, even with a small gesture or a drawing, you are using your voice, and that is fantastic!"
Cool-Down: Voice Level Check (Refer to Voice Level Cool-Down)
"Alright, my little speaking stars, let's do a quick 'Voice Level Cool-Down.' I want you to think about today's lesson. On your fingers, or just quietly in your head, what 'voice level' did you feel you used today? (Show a finger scale: 1 for super quiet/thinking, 2 for whispering, 3 for a small group voice, 4 for a regular speaking voice)."
"It's okay to have used any level today. What's important is that you were here, you were thinking, and you were communicating in your own way. We will keep practicing being brave with our voices, and we will always be here to support each other! Great job, everyone!"
Warm Up
Speaking Stars Warm-Up
Think about a time when you felt really happy and comfortable to use your voice!
Where do you shine like a speaking star?
- Is it when you are playing with your toys?
- Is it when you are talking to your family?
- Is it when you are singing your favorite song?
Draw or write about your "Speaking Star" moment here:
Activity
My Comfort Zone Activity
Everyone feels comfortable speaking in different places and at different times. It's okay to feel shy sometimes!
Where I feel comfortable speaking (My Voice is Happy!)
Draw or write about places or times when you feel super comfortable and happy to use your voice! You can use words or pictures.
Where I feel a little shy to speak (My Voice is Quiet)
Draw or write about places or times when you feel a little nervous or shy to use your voice. It's okay to feel this way sometimes!
Cool Down
Voice Level Cool-Down
Think about how much you communicated today in our lesson. Everyone communicates in different ways, and every way is important!
Which "Voice Level" did you feel you were at today? You can show with your fingers or just think about it quietly.
- Level 1: Thinking with my brain (no sound)
- Level 2: Quiet whisper
- Level 3: Speaking to a friend in a small group
- Level 4: Speaking to the whole class
What is one thing you learned today about communicating or about helping others feel brave?