Lesson Plan
Session 1 Plan
Introduce Motivational Interviewing, guide the student to explore personal values, and collaboratively set an initial SMART attendance goal.
Building rapport and linking school attendance to what matters most fosters intrinsic motivation and empowers students to overcome avoidance.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Motivational interviewing plus interactive values worksheet
Materials
- Motivational Interviewing Intro Slides, - Personal Values Worksheet, - Chart Paper and Markers, and - Timer
Prep
Review Materials and Set Up
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with Motivational Interviewing Intro Slides and Personal Values Worksheet
- Prepare chart paper and markers on a visible wall or table
- Ensure a timer or stopwatch is ready for time-bound activities
Step 1
Build Rapport
5 minutes
- Greet the student warmly and engage in casual conversation about their interests
- Ask open-ended questions about recent experiences to build trust
- Emphasize that the session is confidential and collaborative
- Clarify that their input shapes the direction of these meetings
Step 2
Introduce Motivational Interviewing
10 minutes
- Display Motivational Interviewing Intro Slides
- Explain MI’s goal: explore ambivalence and support autonomy
- Use open-ended questions: “What do you like or dislike about school?”
- Reflect the student’s statements and ask permission to delve deeper
Step 3
Personal Values Exploration
10 minutes
- Distribute Personal Values Worksheet
- Guide the student to review a list of values and circle their top 3–5
- Discuss why each selected value is important to them
- Explore connections between those values and attending school
Step 4
Set SMART Attendance Goal
5 minutes
- Briefly define SMART goals with an example
- Collaborate to create one specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound attendance goal for the coming week (e.g., “Attend all morning classes on 3 days.”)
- Write the goal on the worksheet and confirm understanding
- Ask the student to rate their confidence in achieving the goal and note any barriers
Slide Deck
Motivational Interviewing: Guiding Change
An approach to help you explore your own reasons for attending school and build motivation from within.
Welcome to Session 1. Introduce yourself and explain that today we will learn a new way to talk about change called Motivational Interviewing. Emphasize a safe, nonjudgmental space.
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style that strengthens your own motivation and commitment to change. It focuses on exploring mixed feelings (ambivalence) and supporting your autonomy to choose.
Explain the definition of MI in simple terms. Emphasize collaboration rather than telling or advising.
The MI Spirit
Partnership: We work together as equals
Acceptance: We respect your choices and strengths
Compassion: We care about what matters to you
Evocation: We draw out your own reasons for attending school
Briefly define each element and check for understanding or examples from the student.
Core MI Skills: OARS
Open-ended Questions Affirmations Reflective Listening Summaries
These skills help us have deeper conversations and understand your perspective.
Introduce OARS as the four core skills. Use each term in a short demonstration.
Open-Ended Questions
Invite the student to share more than yes or no answers.
Examples:
– “What do you like or dislike about school?”
– “How does going to class fit with what matters most to you?”
Model one or two open questions. Invite the student to practice crafting their own question.
Reflective Listening
Shows you understand feelings and meaning.
– Simple Reflection: “You feel stressed about classes.”
– Complex Reflection: “It sounds like school sometimes feels overwhelming and hard to manage.”
Illustrate simple and complex reflection. Ask the student to try reflecting something you say next.
Next Steps
Use open-ended questions and reflections to explore your thoughts on school attendance. Listen for what you value most. Next, we will connect those values to your school goals.
Summarize the session and prepare to transition to the values activity.
Worksheet
Session 1: Personal Values and School Attendance
1. Circle Your Top 5 Values
Friendships Family Learning Creativity Responsibility Independence Success Community Health Honesty Respect Adventure Leadership Teamwork Security Fun Growth Kindness
2. Explore Your Selected Values
For each value you selected above, write the value in the space provided and answer the two questions.
Value #1: ___________________________
a) Why is this value important to me?
b) How could attending school help me honor this value?
Value #2: ___________________________
a) Why is this value important to me?
b) How could attending school help me honor this value?
Value #3: ___________________________
a) Why is this value important to me?
b) How could attending school help me honor this value?
Value #4: ___________________________
a) Why is this value important to me?
b) How could attending school help me honor this value?
Value #5: ___________________________
a) Why is this value important to me?
b) How could attending school help me honor this value?
3. Reflection Question
Of the values you selected, which one motivates you the most to attend school regularly? Why?
Script
Session 1 Script
1. Build Rapport (5 minutes)
Teacher: “Hi there, [Student Name]! I’m really glad we have this time together. How has your day been so far?”
Teacher: “Thanks for sharing. I know we’re meeting one-on-one and everything we talk about is just between us—no judgments, just a place for you to share what’s on your mind. Today is all about your ideas and what matters to you.”
Teacher: “Before we dive in, tell me one thing you’ve enjoyed recently—maybe a hobby, game, or something fun you did.”
Follow-up if needed: “What about that was most interesting to you?” or “How did that make you feel?”
2. Introduce Motivational Interviewing (10 minutes)
Teacher: “I want to share a way of talking called Motivational Interviewing—MI for short. I’ll show you a quick slide.”
Display Motivational Interviewing Intro Slides.
Teacher: “MI is a friendly, back-and-forth conversation where I help you explore your own reasons for going to school. Then you decide what steps make sense. It’s not about me telling you what to do—it’s about your voice.”
Teacher: “Let’s look at these principles.”
Flip to slide “The MI Spirit.”
Teacher: “We work together as equals, I respect your choices and what matters to you, and I’m here to draw out your own reasons for attending school.”
Teacher: “One core skill in MI is asking open-ended questions—questions you can’t answer with just ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ For example: ‘What do you like or dislike about school?’”
Teacher: “I’ll ask you that now.”
Teacher: “What do you like or dislike about school?”
Pause for response.
Teacher: “Thanks for that. It sounds like you feel [reflect briefly]. Am I hearing you right?”
Teacher: “Would it be okay if we talk more about how that feeling influences your decision to come (or not come) to school?”
Use reflections and follow-up questions (“Tell me more about that...,” “What’s the hardest part about that for you?”) until the student feels heard.
3. Personal Values Exploration (10 minutes)
Teacher: “Great conversation. Next, let’s connect school to what you care about most. Here’s the Personal Values Worksheet.”
Teacher: “Step 1: Circle your top five values from the list. Take about a minute to do that.”
Give student time, set timer if helpful.
Teacher: “Nice work. Now, let’s pick one of your circled values to explore. Which one stands out the most?”
Student names a value.
Teacher: “Perfect. On the worksheet, write that value under ‘Value #1.’”
Teacher: “Question a) Why is this value important to you?”
Pause as they write.
Teacher: “Question b) How could attending school help you honor this value?”
Pause as they write.
Teacher: “Can you tell me what you wrote for part b)?”
Reflect back key points, e.g., “So attending school helps you practice teamwork because you get to work with others on projects.”
Teacher: “Awesome. Now you can fill in the next two values (Values #2 and #3) the same way. I’ll check in after a couple of minutes.”
Circulate through values #2 and #3, offering prompts if needed: “What’s another way school connects to your value of [student’s value]?”
Teacher: “Finally, for Values #4 and #5, go ahead and complete those questions. Then answer the reflection: ‘Which of your values motivates you most to attend school regularly, and why?’”
Allow time to finish.
4. Set SMART Attendance Goal (5 minutes)
Teacher: “We’re almost done! Let’s turn what matters to you into an attendance goal for this week.”
Teacher: “SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: ‘I will attend every morning class on at least three days this week.’”
Teacher: “What’s one goal that feels doable for you this week?”
Student suggests goal.
Teacher: “Great. Let’s check it:
• Specific: [restates goal]
• Measurable: [how you’ll track it]
• Attainable: [talk about why it’s realistic]
• Relevant: [links back to a value]
• Time-bound: this week.”
Teacher: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that you can reach this goal?”
Student gives number.
Teacher: “What might get in the way? And what could you do if that happens?”
Teacher: “Fantastic. You’ve set a clear goal and thought through challenges.”
Teacher: “I’m proud of the work you did today. Next session we’ll check how things went, celebrate your progress, and adjust as needed.”
End of Session 1
Thank you for your openness. See you next time!