lenny

Growing Self-Esteem

Lesson Plan

Growing Self-Esteem Session 1 Lesson Plan

Students will identify three personal strengths, reflect on past successes, and practice positive self-talk to boost confidence.

Providing tangible strength cards and structured reflection helps the student recognize her abilities and build resilience through positive reinforcement.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

One-on-one discussion, hands-on card selection, journaling, and self-talk practice.

Materials

Session 1 Reflection Journal, Strengths Card Set, Positive Self-Talk Worksheet, and Timer

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Rapport Building

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and review the session’s purpose: discovering her strengths to boost confidence
  • Use simple, encouraging language to ensure she feels comfortable sharing

Step 2

Strength Identification Activity

10 minutes

  • Lay out the Strengths Card Set face down and invite the student to pick three cards that resonate
  • Ask open-ended questions (e.g., “Why does this strength matter to you?”) and validate her responses with specific praise

Step 3

Reflective Journaling

8 minutes

  • Provide the Session 1 Reflection Journal
  • Prompt her to write or draw examples of when she’s used each chosen strength
  • Offer supportive feedback and help with spelling or ideas as needed

Step 4

Positive Self-Talk Practice

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Positive Self-Talk Worksheet
  • Model one entry (e.g., Strength: “I am a good listener.” Self-talk: “I help others feel heard.”)
  • Guide her to complete one strength–self-talk pair

Step 5

Closing & Encouragement

2 minutes

  • Recap the three strengths and celebrate her effort
  • Encourage her to say one positive self-talk statement each morning until the next session
lenny

Slide Deck

Growing Self-Esteem: Session 1

Welcome! In this session, we will:
• Identify three of your personal strengths
• Reflect on when you’ve used them
• Practice saying positive things about yourself

Welcome student, introduce yourself warmly and explain that today we will discover her personal strengths to help her feel more confident.

Session Objectives

  1. Identify three strengths that describe you
  2. Write or draw examples of those strengths
  3. Create positive self-talk statements

Review the session’s three objectives. Ask the student if she has any questions before starting.

Strengths Identification Activity

• Use the Strengths Card Set to pick your top 3 strengths
• For each card, discuss why you chose it
• Remember: there are no right or wrong answers!

Show the Strengths Card Set. Invite her to choose three cards that resonate. Ask open-ended questions (“Why did you pick this one?”) and praise her answers.

Reflective Journaling

• For each chosen strength, write or draw one example of when you used it
• Think of a time you felt proud of yourself

Hand over the Session 1 Reflection Journal. Encourage drawing or writing. Offer help with spelling or ideas.

Positive Self-Talk Practice

Strength: “________”
Self-talk: “____________________________”

Example:
Strength: “I am a good listener.”
Self-talk: “I help others feel heard.”

Introduce the Positive Self-Talk Worksheet. Model one entry and then guide her to complete one of her strengths.

Sharing & Feedback

• Share your journal drawing/writing
• Read your self-talk aloud
• Celebrate what you did well

Review her journal and worksheet entries. Offer specific praise for effort and courage to share.

Closing & Encouragement

• Recap your three strengths
• Choose one self-talk statement to say each morning
• See you next time to build even more confidence!

Encourage her to say one of her self-talk statements every morning. Remind her that using these statements will help her feel confident.

lenny

Worksheet

Session 1: Positive Self-Talk Worksheet

In today’s session, you discovered three strengths that describe you. For each strength below, write the strength and then write a positive self-talk statement that reminds you how great you are!

Strength #1: _________________________________________






Self-Talk #1: _________________________________________





Strength #2: _________________________________________






Self-Talk #2: _________________________________________





Strength #3: _________________________________________






Self-Talk #3: _________________________________________





Choose one of your self-talk statements above to say each morning. Write it here and practice it every day!

Morning Self-Talk Statement: ___________________________


lenny
lenny

Journal

Session 1 Reflection Journal

Today, we explored your unique personal strengths. Use this space to reflect deeply on what you learned and how you can use these strengths moving forward.

1. What are your three strengths and why does each one matter to you?





2. Describe a time when you used one of your strengths. What happened, and how did it make you feel?










3. For a second strength, write or draw three ways you have used it.





4. Think about the third strength. How could you use it when something feels hard at school? Write or draw your ideas.










5. Which strength are you most proud of, and why?





6. Write one positive statement you can say to yourself each morning to remind you of your strengths.



Remember: Take your time and be kind to yourself as you write or draw. There are no right or wrong answers—this is about discovering YOU!

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Strengths Card Set

Print this page and cut along the grid lines to create individual cards. During the Growing Self-Esteem Session 1 Lesson Plan, lay the cards face down, have the student pick three that speak to her, and discuss why she chose each one.

CaringBraveCreativeHelpful
PatientLeaderFriendlyHonest
ThoughtfulRespectfulReliableEncouraging
CuriousDeterminedArtisticProblem Solver
lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Growing Self-Esteem Session 2 Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify negative self-talk, reframe it into positive statements tied to their strengths, and practice using these reframes in real-life scenarios.

By challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with positive reframes, the student builds resilience, reduces self-doubt, and strengthens her confidence in challenging moments.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on reframing exercises with guided practice.

Materials

Session 2 Negative Self-Talk Worksheet, Session 2 Reframing Prompt Cards, Session 2 Reflection Journal, and Timer

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Recap

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and briefly revisit her three strengths and chosen morning self-talk statement
  • Ask how practicing her self-talk has felt so far and celebrate any successes

Step 2

Identify Negative Self-Talk

8 minutes

  • Introduce the Session 2 Negative Self-Talk Worksheet
  • Explain that negative self-talk are thoughts that make us feel unsure or worried
  • Guide the student to write or draw one recent example of a negative thought she’s had

Step 3

Reframing Activity

10 minutes

  • Lay out the Session 2 Reframing Prompt Cards face down
  • Invite her to pick a card describing a common negative thought
  • Work together to transform it into a positive, strength-based statement and record it on the worksheet
  • Praise her reframes and link them back to her personal strengths

Step 4

Scenario Practice

5 minutes

  • Present a simple scenario (e.g., “You forgot your homework.”)
  • Ask the student to identify the negative thought she might have in that moment
  • Prompt her to reframe it into a positive self-talk statement and say it aloud
  • Offer supportive feedback on her delivery

Step 5

Reflection & Encouragement

2 minutes

  • Provide the Session 2 Reflection Journal
  • Ask her to reflect on how reframing changed her feelings and how she can use it at school
  • Encourage her to practice reframing any negative thought she notices before our next session
lenny

Slide Deck

Growing Self-Esteem: Session 2

Today, we will:
• Revisit your strengths and morning self-talk practice
• Identify negative self-talk thoughts
• Reframe them into positive, strength-based statements
• Practice reframing in real-life scenarios

Greet the student warmly, revisit her three strengths and the morning self-talk statement. Ask how practicing it has felt so far and celebrate any successes.

Session Objectives

  1. Identify examples of negative self-talk
  2. Transform negative thoughts into positive reframes tied to strengths
  3. Practice using these reframes in simple scenarios

Point out today’s three objectives. Check for any questions before moving on.

Identify Negative Self-Talk

• Negative self-talk are thoughts that make us feel unsure or worried
• Pick one recent negative thought you’ve had
• Write or draw it on the worksheet

Introduce the Session 2 Negative Self-Talk Worksheet. Explain negative self-talk and guide her to write or draw a recent example.

Reframing Activity

• Select a prompt card describing a common negative thought
• Discuss how to turn it into a positive, strength-based statement
• Record your new statement on the worksheet
• Link it back to one of your personal strengths

Show the Session 2 Reframing Prompt Cards laid out face down. Invite her to choose a card and work together to reframe.

Scenario Practice

• Example scenario: “You forgot your homework.”
• What negative thought might you have?
• Reframe it into a positive self-talk statement
• Say your new statement out loud

Provide a simple scenario (e.g., “You forgot your homework”). Guide her to name the negative thought and reframe aloud.

Reflection & Encouragement

• How did reframing your thought change how you feel?
• Write one way you can use reframing at school
• Keep practicing reframing any negative thought until next session

Hand over the Session 2 Reflection Journal. Encourage her to reflect and plan how to use reframing at school.

lenny

Worksheet

Session 2: Negative Self-Talk Worksheet

In today’s session, you will identify times when you say unkind things to yourself. For each negative thought below, write it down, turn it into a positive statement, and connect it to one of your strengths.

Negative Thought #1:






Positive Reframe #1:






Which Strength Helps You Believe This?





Negative Thought #2:






Positive Reframe #2:






Which Strength Helps You Believe This?





Negative Thought #3:






Positive Reframe #3:






Which Strength Helps You Believe This?





Reflection:
What did you notice when you reframed your thoughts? How can you use this skill when you feel worried or unsure? Write your ideas below.












lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Session 2 Reframing Prompt Cards

Print this page and cut along the grid lines to create individual prompt cards. Each card shows a common negative thought. During the Reframing Activity, lay the cards face down, have the student pick one, and work together to turn it into a positive, strength-based statement on the Session 2 Negative Self-Talk Worksheet.

I always make mistakes.I’m not as smart as others.I’ll never get this right.Nobody likes me.
I can’t do anything right.I’m too shy to speak up.I always feel left out.I’m not good at making friends.
I forget things all the time.I’m not creative.I work so slowly.I won’t succeed.
I’m not helpful enough.I’m not brave.I’ll embarrass myself.It’s too hard for me.
lenny
lenny

Journal

Session 2 Reflection Journal

Today, we practiced turning negative thoughts into positive, strength-based statements. Use this space to think about how reframing helps you feel more confident and plan how to use it in the future.

1. Which negative thought did you reframe, and what was your new positive statement? How did it feel to say the reframe?










2. How did connecting your reframe to one of your personal strengths help you believe it?









3. Think of a time this week when you felt worried or unsure. How will you use reframing next time? Describe what you will say to yourself.











4. Which part of the reframing activity was most helpful to you, and why?









5. Write one positive statement you will practice saying before a challenging task at school.





Remember: You can use reframing anytime you notice a negative thought. Keep practicing, and notice how it helps you feel stronger and more confident!

lenny
lenny