Advocacy Skills Script

Teacher: "Alright girls, today we're going to learn how to speak up for ourselves in a way that's clear, kind, and confident. Listen closely, as we'll read through a little script together."

Teacher (reading the script):

Scene: A Classroom Setting

Student 1 (Sara): "Mr. Johnson, I'm having a little trouble understanding this math problem. Can you explain it in a different way?"

Teacher (role-playing as Mr. Johnson): "Of course, Sara. Let me try explaining it with another example."

(Pause for reflection)

Teacher (continued narration): "Notice how Sara spoke clearly and politely about her need, and Mr. Johnson listened and responded kindly."

Teacher (reading aloud):

Scene: A Group Discussion

Student 2 (Mia): "I feel really nervous about presenting my project. I need some help practicing what I want to say."

Friend (Alex): "I understand, Mia. Let's practice together so that you feel more confident."

(Pause for reflection)

Teacher (explaining): "Mia told her friend exactly how she felt and what she needed, and Alex offered support. When we speak up like this, we help each other learn and grow."

Teacher (concluding the script): "Remember, self-advocacy means using your words to share your feelings, ask for help, or make a request in a clear and respectful way. It's all about being honest about what you need while listening carefully to others."

Teacher: "Let's take a moment to think about times when you have used your words to solve a problem or ask for help. Who would like to share an example?"

Discussion Guide for Self-Advocacy

This guide is designed to help you facilitate engaging discussions about self-advocacy with your 5th-grade girls. Use the following prompts and questions to encourage sharing, reflection, and a deeper understanding of what it means to speak up for oneself.

Session 1: Understanding Self-Advocacy

Objective: Introduce the concept of self-advocacy and relate it to personal experiences.

Discussion Prompts:

1. What does self-advocacy mean to you?
   - Ask each student what they think it means to speak up for themselves.
   
   
   

2. When have you had to speak up for yourself?
   - Invite students to share times when they needed to ask for help or express their feelings. (Allow for very brief, concise answers:
   
   
   
   
   
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3. Why is it sometimes hard to speak up?
   - Discuss potential challenges such as feeling nervous, not being sure what to say, or fearing a negative response.
   
   
   

4. What can help us become more confident in sharing our needs?
   - Brainstorm ideas such as practicing with a friend, preparing what to say, or remembering that our opinions matter.
   
   
   

Session 2: Role-Playing and Practice

Objective: Reflect on role-playing activities and discuss how they simulate real-life situations.

Discussion Prompts:

1. How did it feel to role-play a self-advocacy situation?
   - Encourage students to talk about their feelings during the role-play.
   
   
   

2. What did you learn about saying what you need clearly?
   - Ask students to consider how using clear and calm language helped in the role-play.
   
   
   

3. Were there any moments where you thought, 'This is hard' or 'This made me nervous?'
   - Talk about normal feelings of nervousness and how these can be overcome with practice and support.
   
   
   

4. What advice would you give to a friend who is about to try self-advocacy?
   - This can help students reflect on effective strategies and supportive methods.
   
   
   

Session 3: Reflecting on the Game and Quiz

Objective: Consolidate learning, assess understanding, and commit to applying self-advocacy skills.

Discussion Prompts:

1. What was your favorite part of today’s activities?
   - Discuss which activity (game or quiz) was most fun or informative and why.
   
   
   
2. Which self-advocacy strategy from our lessons did you find most useful?
   - Ask students to identify a key strategy (such as speaking clearly or using a calm tone) that they plan to practice.
   
   
   
3. How do you think practicing self-advocacy will help you in your daily life?
   - Encourage students to connect these skills to both school and personal life situations.
   
   
   
4. What is one personal commitment you are willing to make to practice self-advocacy?
   - Invite each student to share a brief commitment statement, reinforcing the idea that change starts with one step.
   
   
   

Facilitation Tips

• Active Listening: Ensure each student feels heard by paraphrasing their answers and validating their feelings.
• Encourage Sharing: Use prompts like "Who would like to share more about that?" to include quieter students.
• Be Positive: Highlight the bravery in speaking up and recognize each contribution, no matter how small.
• Provide Examples: When necessary, give examples or model responses to help students articulate their thoughts.
• Keep it Light: Remind students that it's okay to make mistakes, and practice is a step-by-step process.

Use this guide as a flexible tool to foster a safe, supportive environment where every student can shine and feel confident in advocating for themselves.

Interactive Activity Instructions: Role-Playing Self-Advocacy

In this activity, students will practice self-advocacy by role-playing different scenarios in a safe and supportive environment. Follow these steps to set up and facilitate the role-playing activity:

Preparation

• Review Scenarios: Familiarize yourself with the two role-play scenarios presented in the Slide Deck for Session 2.
• Set Up Groups: Arrange students into small groups or pairs. Ensure that each group has a mix of roles (e.g., student, teacher, friend).
• Explain Guidelines: Remind students of the importance of respectful listening, clear communication, and supportive feedback. Emphasize that mistakes are part of the learning process.

Activity Steps

1. Introduce the Activity:

   • Explain that the role-play exercise is designed to let them practice self-advocacy skills in everyday situations.
   • Stress that they should use a calm tone, be clear about their needs, and listen actively to their peers.

2. Assign Scenarios:

   • Provide each group with a scenario card. Example scenarios include:
     • Scenario 1: You are confused about a math lesson and need to ask your teacher for extra help.
     • Scenario 2: You need more time to finish an assignment and must explain this request to your teacher.

3. Role-Playing:

   • Let each group assign roles (e.g., one student as the one speaking up, another as the teacher or friend listening, etc.).
   • Allow groups 5-7 minutes to act out the scenario. They should focus on using clear language to state their needs.

4. Debrief as a Class:

   • After each role-play session, bring the groups back together.
   • Ask students to share:
     • What strategies worked well?
     • How did it feel to speak up?
     • What could they improve or try differently next time?

5. Teacher Feedback:

   • Provide positive reinforcement and constructive feedback.
   • Summarize key points on effective self-advocacy, using the discussion points from the Discussion Guide as a reference.

Reflection

• Individual Reflection: Ask each student to write down one thing they learned about self-advocacy during the role-play. They should also note one area where they want to improve.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Group Discussion: Facilitate a brief discussion where students can share their reflections and offer tips to one another.
  
  
  
  
  
  

This interactive activity allows students to experience real-life self-advocacy situations in a controlled, supportive setting, reinforcing both the practice and the feedback necessary for growth.

Self-Advocacy Game: Speak Up, Shine Bright Challenge

Welcome to the Self-Advocacy Game! This fun and interactive game is designed to reinforce the self-advocacy skills we've learned in our sessions. In this game, you'll work in teams to solve scenarios by deciding the best ways to speak up for yourselves. Ready, set, shine!

Game Overview

• Objective: Practice and reinforce self-advocacy strategies in everyday situations, while having fun and working together as a team.
• Materials Needed: Scenario cards (provided as part of the game kit), a timer, scorecards, and a whiteboard/marker for team brainstorming.
• Duration: Approximately 10-15 minutes per round.

How to Play

1. Divide into Teams:

   • Split the group into small teams (2-4 students per team).
   • Each team selects a team name.

2. Scenario Cards:

   • Each team will receive a scenario card. These cards describe a situation where self-advocacy is needed. For example:
     • "You don't understand a math problem, and you're too shy to ask for help."
     • "You need more time to finish an assignment, but you're worried about what your teacher might think."
   • Teams can choose a card from a box or draw one at random.

3. Brainstorming Session:

   • Teams will have 3 minutes to discuss and write down the best way to handle the situation.
   • Encourage creative thinking, clear communication, and the use of a calm tone.

4. Team Presentations:

   • Each team presents their scenario and their proposed self-advocacy solution to the class.
   • After each presentation, other teams can ask questions or offer positive feedback.

5. Scoring:

   • Use the following criteria to award points:
     • Clarity of Communication: Did the team clearly state the need or concern? (0-3 points)
     • Confidence and Tone: Was the approach respectful and confident? (0-3 points)
     • Creativity and Problem-Solving: Did the team propose an innovative or particularly effective solution? (0-3 points)
   • The teacher or a designated scoring team can tally the points for each team.

6. Winning the Game:

   • The team with the highest score at the end of the rounds wins the game.
   • Prizes can include stickers, a round of applause, or a special privilege during class activities.

Tips for Success

• Listen Actively: Remember to pay attention to your teammates' ideas and build on them.
• Keep It Respectful: Always speak kindly and encourage one another, even when providing feedback.
• Be Creative: There are no wrong answers! Use your imagination to find the best way to advocate for yourself.

Game Wrap-Up

At the end of the game, we'll have a brief group discussion to talk about what strategies worked well and what we learned through the game. Think about one takeaway you can use in your day-to-day life to be a better self-advocate.

Let's speak up, shine bright, and have fun!

Good luck, and may the best team win!