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Path to Confidence

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Antonio Lara

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Get to Know You

Build rapport and trust through sharing personal interests, expectations, and establishing a comfortable space for future sessions.

Trust and connection are foundational in counseling; this session helps the student feel seen, heard, and ready to engage in goal-setting.

Audience

8th Grade Individual Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive sharing and guided discussion

Materials

Mood Meter Chart, Get-to-Know-You Questions, and Session 1 Reflection Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print a copy of the Mood Meter Chart.
  • Print the Get-to-Know-You Questions prompt sheet.
  • Print the Session 1 Reflection Worksheet.
  • Familiarize yourself with each activity flow and possible student responses.

Step 1

Check-In

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and invite them into the counseling space.
  • Ask a simple question (e.g., “How has your day been so far?”).
  • Listen actively and validate their response to build initial comfort.

Step 2

Mood Meter

5 minutes

  • Display the Mood Meter Chart.
  • Ask the student to identify where they feel on the chart today and why.
  • Briefly discuss strategies for shifting or sustaining that mood.

Step 3

Overview

2 minutes

  • Explain today’s structure: check-in, mood meter, icebreaker, main activity, reflection.
  • Emphasize the goal: getting to know each other and establishing trust.

Step 4

Warm-Up Icebreaker

8 minutes

  • Use the Get-to-Know-You Questions sheet.
  • Model answering one question yourself.
  • Invite the student to choose and answer two questions that feel comfortable.
  • Provide positive feedback and note shared interests.

Step 5

Main Activity

8 minutes

  • Play “Two Truths and a Wish”: explain that each person shares two true facts and one future wish.
  • Model your two truths and a wish first.
  • Encourage the student to share theirs, listen attentively, and ask follow-up questions.

Step 6

Reflection

2 minutes

  • Distribute the Session 1 Reflection Worksheet.
  • Ask the student to answer:
    • “What did you learn about our session today?”
    • “How do you feel about the next steps?”
  • Collect the worksheet and thank them for sharing.
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Slide Deck

Path to Confidence Session 1: Get to Know You

Welcome to your first counseling session! In today’s session we will get to know each other and build the foundation for future sessions.

Welcome the student and introduce yourself. Explain that this is the first of eight sessions in the “Path to Confidence” series.

Session 1 Agenda

• Check-In (5 min)
• Mood Meter (5 min)
• Overview (2 min)
• Icebreaker Warm-Up (8 min)
• Main Activity (8 min)
• Reflection (2 min)

Briefly walk through each part of today’s session so the student knows what to expect.

Mood Meter

Refer to the Mood Meter Chart
• Where are you on the chart today?
• Why did you choose this spot?
• What could help you shift or maintain this mood?

Display the Mood Meter Chart and invite the student to select where they are. Ask them to explain why and offer simple strategies for shifting or sustaining that mood.

Warm-Up Icebreaker

Use the Get-to-Know-You Questions

  1. I’ll answer one question to get us started.
  2. You choose and answer two questions.
  3. We’ll discuss any shared interests.

Model one question answer, then hand the student the sheet and invite them to answer two prompts. Note shared interests.

Main Activity: Two Truths and a Wish

• Share two true facts about yourself.
• Share one future wish.
• Listen and ask follow-up questions.

Explain the rules, model your two truths and a wish, then invite the student to share theirs. Ask follow-up questions to deepen connection.

Reflection

Answer on the Session 1 Reflection Worksheet:
• What did you learn about our session today?
• How do you feel about the next steps?

Hand out the reflection worksheet, guide the student to complete it, then collect and thank them.

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Worksheet

Session 1 Reflection Worksheet

  1. What did you learn about our session today?






  1. How do you feel about the next steps?






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lenny

Activity

Get-to-Know-You Questions

Use these prompts to share a little about yourself. Pick two that feel most interesting or comfortable to answer.

  • What’s your favorite hobby or activity outside of school?




  • If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?




  • What book, movie, or TV show do you really enjoy and why?




  • Who is someone you look up to or admire? What do you admire about them?




  • What subject in school do you like the most and what do you enjoy about it?




  • If you could learn a new skill instantly, what would it be?




  • What’s something unique about you that you’d like others to know?




  • How do you like to relax or unwind after a busy day?




  • What’s a goal or wish you have for this school year?




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lenny