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My Voice Matters

Lesson Plan

Building My Assertive Voice

Students will learn and practice self-advocacy skills to confidently express their needs, opinions, and boundaries in various situations.

Developing self-advocacy skills helps students navigate academic, social, and personal challenges, fostering independence and confidence in their communication.

Audience

Individual Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Through direct instruction, guided practice, and reflective journaling.

Materials

Assertiveness Toolkit (slide-deck), and My Self-Advocacy Scenarios (journal)

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Self-Advocacy?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking the student: "Have you ever felt like you wanted to say something, but didn't? Or wished you had spoken up for yourself?"
    - Explain that today's lesson is about self-advocacy, which means speaking up for yourself and expressing your needs respectfully.
    - Introduce the Assertiveness Toolkit Slide Deck as a guide for understanding how to do this.

Step 2

Explore the Assertiveness Toolkit

15 minutes

  • Go through the Assertiveness Toolkit Slide Deck with the student.
    - Discuss each slide, focusing on defining assertive, passive, and aggressive communication.
    - Emphasize the importance of

Step 3

Practice Scenarios with the Journal

20 minutes

  • Introduce the My Self-Advocacy Scenarios Journal.
    - Explain that the journal provides different situations where the student can practice writing assertive responses.
    - Work through one or two scenarios together, modeling how to formulate an assertive statement using

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-up

5 minutes

  • Ask the student: "What is one new thing you learned about self-advocacy today?"
    - Encourage them to think about one situation in the coming week where they can try to use their assertive voice.
    - Reiterate that practicing these skills takes time and that their voice matters.
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Slide Deck

My Voice Matters: Assertiveness Toolkit

Speak Up, Stand Tall, Be You!

Welcome the student and introduce the idea of finding their voice and speaking up for themselves.

What is Self-Advocacy?

  • Speaking up for yourself.
  • Expressing your needs, opinions, and boundaries.
  • Doing it respectfully and confidently.

Explain that self-advocacy is about knowing what you need and asking for it in a respectful way. It's not about being bossy, but being clear.

Communication Styles

How do we express ourselves? Let's explore three ways:

  1. Passive: Quiet, shy, lets others decide.
  2. Aggressive: Demanding, loud, pushes others away.
  3. Assertive: Clear, respectful, confident.

Introduce the three main communication styles. Emphasize that assertive is the goal.

Passive Communication

  • Looks like: Avoiding eye contact, slumped posture, quiet voice.
  • Sounds like: "I don't mind... whatever you want... it's fine."
  • Outcome: Needs often unmet, can feel frustrated.

Detail what passive communication looks like and sounds like. Ask the student if they've ever felt this way.

Aggressive Communication

  • Looks like: Staring, tense posture, loud voice, finger-pointing.
  • Sounds like: "You always... you never... you have to!"
  • Outcome: Others feel attacked, relationships can be damaged.

Detail what aggressive communication looks like and sounds like. Explain why this isn't effective for getting needs met in the long run.

Assertive Communication

  • Looks like: Good eye contact, calm posture, clear voice.
  • Sounds like: "I feel... I need... I would like..."
  • Outcome: Needs are expressed clearly, builds respect.

Detail what assertive communication looks like and sounds like. Highlight this as the ideal way to communicate.

The 'I Feel' Statement

A great way to be assertive is to use 'I Feel' statements:
"I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [reason]. I need/would like [solution]."

Example: "I feel frustrated when I don't get a chance to share my ideas because it makes me feel unheard. I would like to have a turn to speak."

Provide a simple, memorable formula for assertive statements. Practice a quick example.

Setting Boundaries

  • Boundaries are limits we set to protect ourselves.
  • Saying "no" when you need to.
  • Communicating what you are comfortable with.

Example: "I can't help with that right now because I have to finish my homework. I can help after I'm done."

Discuss how setting boundaries is a key part of self-advocacy. Give an example like saying no to an extra chore when you're already busy.

Your Voice Matters!

  • Practice makes progress!
  • Start small.
  • Be patient with yourself.
  • Your needs are important, and you have the right to express them!

Summarize the key takeaways and encourage the student to start practicing these skills.

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Journal

My Self-Advocacy Scenarios

This journal is a space for you to practice using your assertive voice! Read each scenario and write down how you would respond using what you learned in the Assertiveness Toolkit. Remember to use "I Feel" statements!

Scenario 1: Group Project Troubles

You are working on a group project, and one teammate is not doing their share of the work. You feel frustrated because you are worried about your grade.

How would you express your feelings and needs to your teammate assertively?













Scenario 2: Unwanted Advice

A friend keeps giving you advice you didn't ask for, and it makes you feel annoyed and like they don't trust you to figure things out yourself.

How would you communicate your boundary to your friend assertively?













Scenario 3: Different Plans

Your family has made plans for the weekend that you really don't want to do. You would prefer to spend some time doing something else, but you feel guilty speaking up.

How would you respectfully express your preferences and needs to your family?













Scenario 4: A School Assignment

You don't understand a part of a homework assignment, and you're worried about asking the teacher because you don't want to seem like you weren't paying attention.

How would you assertively ask your teacher for clarification or help?













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