Self-Advocacy in Action

Tara Buonanno Williams

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Self-Advocacy in Action

To practice self advocacy skills

This lesson focuses on helping students develop self-advocacy skills through a combination of video learning, discussion, and practical activities. By engaging in these activities, students will learn how to express their needs and make decisions that align with their personal values, which is crucial for their personal growth and confidence.

Audience

2 8th Grade Students

Time

30 min

Approach

Materials

Video: How to Be More Confident, Worksheet: Self-Advocacy Scenarios, Discussion: Self-Advocacy Strategies, and Activity: Role-Playing Self-Advocacy

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin by discussing the importance of self-advocacy and how it helps in personal growth.
Introduce the video How to Be More Confident as a tool to learn about assertiveness.

Step 2

Video Viewing

5 mins

Watch the video How to Be More Confident.
Ask students to note down key points about assertiveness and self-expression.

Step 3

Discussion

5 mins

Use the discussion questions to explore what students learned from the video.
Encourage students to share personal experiences where they needed to advocate for themselves.

Step 4

Worksheet Activity

10 mins

Distribute the 'Self-Advocacy Scenarios' worksheet.
Have students work through scenarios, discussing how they would advocate for themselves in each situation.
Provide guidance and feedback as needed.

Step 5

Role-Playing Activity

5 mins

Pair students and have them role-play one of the scenarios from the worksheet.
Encourage them to use assertive communication techniques learned from the video.
Provide feedback on their performance.

Step 6

Closure

5 mins

Recap the key points of the lesson.
Ask students to reflect on how they can apply self-advocacy skills in their daily lives.
Encourage them to set a personal goal related to self-advocacy.

Discussion

Self-Advocacy Strategies

A discussion to explore strategies for self-advocacy and reflect on personal experiences.

What are some key strategies for self-advocacy you learned from the video?

Encourage students to mention assertiveness, clear communication, and setting boundaries.

Can you share a time when you had to advocate for yourself? How did it go?

Guide students to reflect on their experiences and what they learned from them.

Worksheet

Self-Advocacy Scenarios

This worksheet provides scenarios for students to practice self-advocacy skills.

Scenario 1: You feel overwhelmed with homework and need to ask your teacher for an extension. How would you approach this situation?

Think about how to express your needs clearly and respectfully.

Scenario 2: You want to join a club, but you're nervous about meeting new people. How can you advocate for yourself to overcome this fear?

Consider ways to build confidence and express your interest.