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Speak Up, Reach Out!

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Lesson Plan

Speak Up, Reach Out Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify and practice self-advocacy skills, focusing on effective communication of academic and emotional needs to a counselor, in various scenarios to support their well-being.

Developing strong self-advocacy skills empowers students to take control of their academic success and mental health. This lesson provides practical strategies for communicating needs and seeking support, which is vital for managing stress and depressive symptoms, and for long-term personal growth, now broken into two manageable sessions.

Audience

12th Grade Students

Time

Two 15-minute sessions

Approach

Interactive discussion, scenario practice, and guided reflection over two sessions.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Self-Advocacy: Speak Up, Reach Out Slide Deck, Self-Advocacy Scenario Worksheet, and Self-Reflection Exit Ticket

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Session 1: Warm-Up & Initial Scenarios

15 minutes

  • Begin by projecting Slide 1 and asking students: "What does 'self-advocacy' mean to you?"
  • Facilitate a brief class discussion, jotting down key ideas on the board. (2 minutes)
  • Transition to Slide 2 to provide a working definition and emphasize its importance, especially in academic and emotional contexts. (3 minutes)
  • Introduce Slide 3 about common situations where self-advocacy is needed.
  • Distribute the Self-Advocacy Scenario Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to work in pairs or small groups to read through Scenario 1 and 2 and discuss how they would approach them, focusing on communicating with a counselor. (8 minutes)
  • Bring the class back together for a brief share-out from a couple of groups on Scenario 1. (2 minutes)

Step 2

Session 2: Deep Dive into Scenarios & Wrap-Up

15 minutes

  • Begin with a quick review of the definition of self-advocacy from the previous session (refer to Slide 2). (1 minute)
  • Instruct students to continue working in pairs or small groups on the Self-Advocacy Scenario Worksheet, focusing on Scenario 3 and 4. (5 minutes)
  • Bring the class back together and ask a few groups to share their strategies for Scenarios 3 and 4. Use Slide 4 to reinforce key communication tips. (2 minutes)
  • If time allows, ask for volunteers to briefly role-play one of the scenarios from the Self-Advocacy Scenario Worksheet with the teacher or a peer, focusing on clear communication and respectful requests. (4 minutes)
  • Provide constructive feedback, highlighting effective strategies. Refer to Slide 5 for a summary of "Your Voice Matters!". (1 minute)
  • Distribute the Self-Reflection Exit Ticket for students to complete individually. (2 minutes)
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Slide Deck

What is Self-Advocacy?

Think, Pair, Share:

What does 'self-advocacy' mean to you?
Why is it important for students, especially as you prepare for life after high school?

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them what self-advocacy means to them, prompting a brief discussion.

Self-Advocacy: Your Voice, Your Needs

  • Definition: Standing up for yourself and your needs.
  • Why it matters:
    • Getting the help you need academically.
    • Managing stress and emotional challenges.
    • Building confidence and independence.
    • Preparing for life beyond high school.

Provide a clear definition of self-advocacy and emphasize its relevance to academic success and emotional well-being. Connect it to managing stress or tough emotions.

When Do We Speak Up?

It's not always easy, but it's always important.

Scenarios where self-advocacy is crucial:

  • Needing an extension on an assignment.
  • Feeling overwhelmed by coursework.
  • Experiencing stress or anxiety.
  • Wanting to discuss future plans.
  • Dealing with personal challenges.

Introduce scenarios where self-advocacy is key, especially regarding communicating with a counselor for academic and emotional support. Explain that they'll be working on a worksheet with examples.

Communicating Your Needs Effectively

Tips for Talking to Your Counselor:

  • Be Clear & Specific: What exactly do you need?
  • Use "I" Statements: "I feel overwhelmed when...", "I need help with..."
  • Explain Why: Briefly describe the situation.
  • Be Respectful: Even when frustrated.
  • Ask for Next Steps: What can they do to help?

Offer practical, actionable tips for effective communication. Encourage students to think about 'I' statements and being specific.

Your Voice Matters!

Remember:

  • Self-advocacy is a powerful skill.
  • You have a right to ask for support.
  • Practice makes it easier.
  • Your counselor is there to help!

Summarize the main points and encourage students to practice these skills. Briefly mention the exit ticket as a reflection opportunity.

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Worksheet

Self-Advocacy Scenario Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: Read each scenario below. In your own words, describe how you would self-advocate in this situation. Specifically, think about what you would say or do to communicate your needs to a counselor or another trusted adult. Be ready to share your ideas with the class.

Scenario 1: Academic Overwhelm

You have three major projects due in the same week, and you're feeling incredibly stressed and anxious. You're starting to fall behind in other classes because of it. You want to talk to your counselor about how overwhelmed you feel and if there are any strategies or support systems available.

What would you say or do?












Scenario 2: Emotional Support

You've been feeling down and unmotivated for a few weeks. It's impacting your sleep and your concentration in class. You know your counselor is a good person to talk to, but you're not sure how to start the conversation about how you're feeling.

What would you say or do?












Scenario 3: Clarifying a Grade

You received a lower grade than you expected on a recent test, and you don't understand why. You've reviewed the material, and you think there might be a misunderstanding or a mistake. You want to discuss this with your teacher, but you'd like to get some advice from your counselor first on how to approach the conversation.

What would you say or do?












Scenario 4: Future Planning Stress

You're a 12th grader, and college applications and future plans are causing you a lot of stress. You're not sure what path is right for you, and the pressure is making it hard to focus. You want to talk to your counselor about your options and get some guidance.

What would you say or do?












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Cool Down

Self-Reflection Exit Ticket: Speak Up, Reach Out

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly to reflect on today's lesson.

  1. What is one new thing you learned about self-advocacy today?



  2. Describe a situation where you might need to use self-advocacy skills in the next month. Who would you talk to and about what?






  3. What is one challenge you might face when trying to self-advocate, and how could you try to overcome it?





  4. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not confident, 5 = very confident), how confident do you feel now about communicating your academic or emotional needs to a counselor?



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