Lesson Plan

Positive Self-Talk Guide

Students will learn to identify negative self-talk and transform it into positive affirmations, practicing these strategies through role-play and journaling to strengthen their self-management skills.

Developing positive self-talk helps students boost confidence, manage stress, and navigate challenges more effectively by internalizing constructive thought patterns.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive reflection, role-play, and journaling

Materials

Positive Self-Talk Guide, - Mirror Talk Slides, - Affirmation Role Play, and - Daily Affirmation Journal

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Positive Self-Talk Guide to align on objectives and terminology
Preview the Mirror Talk Slides and adjust notes as needed
Print enough copies of the Affirmation Role Play activity sheet for each student
Prepare journals or printed copies of the Daily Affirmation Journal
Set up a projector or smartboard for slide presentation

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

Ask students to think of a recent challenge they faced
Have volunteers share one negative thought they experienced
Introduce the concept of self-talk: internal dialogue that influences feelings and actions

Step 2

Introduction to Positive Self-Talk

5 minutes

Display opening slides from the Mirror Talk Slides
Define positive affirmations and their benefits
Provide examples (e.g., “I am prepared,” “I can learn from mistakes”)

Step 3

Affirmation Role Play

15 minutes

Pair up students and distribute the Affirmation Role Play sheets
Each pair reads a scenario with negative self-talk aloud
Partners practice converting that self-talk into a positive affirmation
After 7 minutes, students switch roles and repeat

Step 4

Journaling Activity

10 minutes

Hand out or open the Daily Affirmation Journal
Students write three affirmations they plan to use tomorrow
They then note one strategy for remembering to use each affirmation throughout the day

Step 5

Reflection & Sharing

3 minutes

Invite volunteers to share one affirmation from their journals
Classmates offer positive feedback and encouragement

Step 6

Closure & Assessment

2 minutes

Summarize key strategies from the Positive Self-Talk Guide
Informally assess understanding by noting participation levels and reviewing journal entries for completion

Slide Deck

Mirror Talk: Developing Positive Self-Talk

An interactive session to explore and practice affirmations for greater confidence and self-control.

Welcome the class and introduce today’s topic: developing positive self-talk to boost confidence and self-management skills. Mention that they will learn, practice, and create personal affirmations.

Learning Objectives

• Identify common negative self-talk patterns
• Transform negative thoughts into positive affirmations
• Practice affirmations through role-play
• Create and commit to daily affirmation practice

Explain each objective briefly: identifying negative self-talk, transforming thoughts, practicing affirmations, and using them daily.

What Is Self-Talk?

Self-talk is the internal dialogue that influences how we feel and act.

It can be positive or negative, affecting confidence and stress levels.

Define self-talk for students and emphasize how internal dialogue shapes feelings and actions.

Negative vs. Positive Self-Talk

Negative: “I always mess up.”
Positive: “I learn from my mistakes.”

Negative: “I’m not good enough.”
Positive: “I can improve with practice.”

Walk through each pair of examples, asking students to spot the difference and share impacts they might feel.

Examples of Positive Affirmations

• “I am capable of achieving my goals.”
• “I handle challenges with resilience.”
• “I learn and grow from feedback.”
• “I deserve success and happiness.”

Read aloud examples and encourage students to think of their own affirmations they’d like to try.

Affirmation Role-Play Instructions

Pair up and pick a scenario sheet.
Read the negative self-talk scenario aloud.
Work together to convert it into a positive affirmation.
After 7 minutes, switch roles and repeat.

Explain the role-play process, assign pairs, and distribute the Affirmation Role Play sheets.

Journaling Activity

• Write three affirmations you will use tomorrow.
• For each, note one strategy to remember it (e.g., mirror note, phone reminder).

Guide students through journaling prompts, circulate to support and answer questions.

Reflection & Sharing

• Who would like to share one of their affirmations?
• Classmates respond with supportive comments and suggestions.

Invite volunteers to share affirmations and encourage peers to give positive feedback.

Closure & Key Takeaways

• Notice and challenge negative self-talk
• Turn thoughts into affirmations
• Practice regularly through role-play and journaling
• Use your affirmations daily for continued growth

Summarize the key strategies, remind students of the objectives, and encourage daily practice.

Activity

Affirmation Role Play

In this activity, students work in pairs to transform negative self-talk statements into positive affirmations.

Instructions:

Pair up with a classmate and pick one scenario below.
One partner reads the situation and negative self-talk aloud.
Together, write a positive affirmation that addresses and counters the negative thought.
Switch roles and repeat with a new scenario.
After both partners have practiced, share a favorite affirmation with the class.