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My Voice My Power

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Lesson Plan

Self-Advocacy Action Plan

Students will understand their individual learning strengths and challenges, identify their educational rights, and develop a personalized self-advocacy action plan to effectively communicate their needs.

Understanding and articulating one's own learning profile is a crucial life skill. This lesson provides 10th-grade special education students with the tools to take an active role in their education, fostering independence and confidence that extends beyond the classroom.

Audience

10th Grade Student

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, personal reflection, and practical application through role-play.

Materials

Speaking Up for You (Slide Deck)](#speaking-up-for-you), My Learning Superpowers (Journal)](#my-learning-superpowers), IEP Meeting Role Play Prompts (Script)](#iep-meeting-role-play-prompts), Pen/Pencil, and Whiteboard or chart paper

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: My Learning Snapshot

10 minutes

  • Begin with an informal check-in: "How do you feel about discussing your learning with others?"
    - Introduce the concept of a 'learning profile.'
    - Facilitate a brief discussion using Speaking Up for You (Slide Deck) Slide 1-2.
    - Prompt students to think about one strength and one challenge in their learning style.

Step 2

Exploring My Learning Superpowers

15 minutes

  • Distribute the My Learning Superpowers (Journal).
    - Guide the student through the journal prompts, encouraging deep reflection on their learning strengths, challenges, and preferences.
    - Provide examples of accommodations and modifications that might be helpful.
    - Discuss responses individually, offering clarifying questions and supportive feedback.

Step 3

The Power of My Voice: Rights and Advocacy

10 minutes

  • Use Speaking Up for You (Slide Deck) Slide 3-4 to explain what self-advocacy means in an educational context, particularly concerning IEPs and educational rights.
    - Discuss the importance of knowing their rights and how to communicate them.
    - Brainstorm phrases or ways to express needs politely and effectively.

Step 4

Practicing My Voice: Role Play

10 minutes

  • Introduce the IEP Meeting Role Play Prompts (Script).
    - Engage in a one-on-one role-play scenario where the student practices advocating for a specific need or accommodation.
    - Provide constructive feedback on their communication style, clarity, and confidence.

Step 5

Cool-Down: My Action Steps

5 minutes

  • Ask the student to identify one specific action step they will take to advocate for themselves in the coming week.
    - Reinforce the idea that their voice has power and is essential for their success.
    - Conclude by praising their efforts and commitment to self-advocacy.
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Slide Deck

My Voice My Power

Understanding Your Learning Journey
Why Your Voice Matters
Becoming Your Own Best Advocate

Let's discover your unique strengths!

Welcome the student and explain the purpose of today's session: to explore their unique learning style and how to effectively communicate their needs. Emphasize that their voice matters.

What's Your Learning Superpower?

Everyone learns differently!

Think about:

  • What makes learning easy for you?
  • What makes learning tricky sometimes?
  • How do you like to get information?

Your unique way of learning is your superpower!

Ask the student to think about how they learn best. Prompt them with questions like: "Do you prefer reading, listening, or doing?" "What helps you understand new things?" Encourage a brief discussion about different learning styles.

Unlocking Your Learning Profile

Your Learning Profile is like a map of how your brain learns best.

It includes:

  • Strengths: What you're great at!
  • Challenges: What makes learning harder sometimes.
  • Preferences: How you like to learn and show what you know.

Knowing your profile helps you ask for what you need.

Introduce the idea of a 'learning profile' and how knowing it helps. Transition into discussing the journal activity, explaining that it will help them document their strengths and challenges.

Self-Advocacy: Speaking Up for YOU!

Self-advocacy means:

  • Knowing your rights: What you are entitled to in school.
  • Understanding your IEP: How it supports your learning.
  • Communicating your needs: Clearly and respectfully asking for help or accommodations.

You are the expert on your own learning!

Explain what self-advocacy means. Connect it to their IEP and their rights. Ask: "Why do you think it's important for you to speak up about your learning?"

How to Be Your Own Best Advocate

Use clear and respectful language.
State your need or preference.
Explain why it helps you.

Examples:

  • "I learn better when I can use a graphic organizer for notes."
  • "Could I have a quiet space to take this test?"
  • "It helps me to have instructions broken down into smaller steps."

Practice makes perfect!

Provide examples of how they can advocate. Discuss different scenarios and how to phrase their requests. Emphasize confidence and clarity.

Role Play: Putting Your Voice to Work

Now, let's practice!

We'll use some scenarios to help you feel more confident in speaking up.

This is your chance to shine!

Briefly introduce the role-play as a chance to practice. Reassure them that it's a safe space to try out their new skills.

Your Voice, Your Future!

You have the power to shape your education.
Your ability to self-advocate is a lifelong skill.
Keep practicing, keep speaking up!

You've got this!

Conclude by reiterating the main message: their voice is powerful. Encourage them to use their self-advocacy skills regularly.

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Journal

My Learning Superpowers: Understanding How I Learn Best

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________


Part 1: My Strengths & Challenges

  1. What are 3 things I am really good at in school? (These are your learning superpowers!)






  2. What are 2-3 subjects or tasks that I find challenging? (It's okay to have challenges – everyone does!)






  3. When I am learning something new, what usually helps me understand it better? (e.g., seeing pictures, listening to explanations, hands-on activities, working with a partner)











  4. When I am struggling with a task, what usually makes it even harder? (e.g., too much noise, long reading passages, unclear instructions)












Part 2: My Preferences & Supports

  1. How do I prefer to show what I know? (e.g., writing essays, giving presentations, creating projects, taking tests, doing hands-on demonstrations)






  2. What kinds of accommodations or supports have helped me in the past? (e.g., extended time, quiet testing environment, graphic organizers, notes provided by teacher)











  3. If I could ask my teacher for one thing that would help me learn better, what would it be and why?













Part 3: My Self-Advocacy Action

  1. In the coming week, I will practice using my voice to advocate for myself by: (Think of one specific situation where you can speak up for your learning needs.)











    I will say/do:






  2. What is one thing I want my teachers, parents, or guardians to know about how I learn best?












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Script

IEP Meeting Role Play Prompts

Teacher: Okay, [Student's Name], it's time to practice using your voice! We're going to do a quick role-play as if we're in an IEP meeting, or you're talking to a teacher about your needs. I'll play the role of the teacher/case manager, and you'll be yourself. Remember, there are no wrong answers here, just practice.

Scenario 1: Requesting an Accommodation

Teacher: "Hi [Student's Name], thanks for joining us today. We're discussing your science class. How are things going for you in there?"

Student:





Teacher: "I hear you. The labs can be quite busy. Is there something specific that makes it challenging, or something that would help you focus better during those times?"

Student: (Think about an accommodation you need, like a quieter space for lab write-ups, or a partner for certain tasks.)











Teacher: "That's a good idea. How do you think [your suggested accommodation] would specifically help you succeed in science labs?"

Student: (Explain the why behind your request. For example: "It helps me focus because...")











Teacher: "Thank you for explaining that. That makes sense. We can definitely look into that. Is there anything else about science, or any other class, that you'd like to discuss?"

Student:





Scenario 2: Expressing a Preference for Learning

Teacher: "[Student's Name], in English class, we're starting a new unit on argumentative essays. What usually helps you when you're starting a big writing project like that?"

Student:





Teacher: "So, you prefer [student's preference, e.g., graphic organizers] when planning. Sometimes, though, teachers don't always provide those. How might you ask your English teacher if you could use one, or if they have a template?"

Student: (Formulate a polite request.)











Teacher: "Excellent! That's a great way to put it. Remember, it's about finding what works best for your learning. You're doing a wonderful job speaking up for yourself!"

Student:





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