You Are Your MVP! Script

Warm-Up: Strengths Spotlight (5 minutes)

(Slide 1: You Are Your MVP! / Building Self-Esteem & Positive Self-Talk)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: how you see yourselves and how you talk to yourselves. We're going to discover that 'You Are Your MVP!' – your Most Valuable Player in life."

"Let's kick things off with a quick warm-up. I want you to think for a moment: What's one thing you're really good at, big or small? It could be anything! Maybe you're great at drawing, or you always make your friends laugh, or you're a super organized note-taker, or you're really good at listening. Take a moment to think about it. Don't be shy!"

"(Pause for students to think and maybe share a few examples). Sometimes, it can feel a little uncomfortable to talk about what we're good at, right? But it's so important to recognize our own unique strengths. We all have them!"

(Slide 2: What's Your MVP Skill?)

"That's what being your 'MVP' is all about. You are the Most Valuable Player of your own life! And part of being an MVP is recognizing those amazing strengths you just thought about. It could be a talent, a positive quality, or even a small accomplishment from yesterday. Why do you think it's sometimes hard for us to see our own greatness?"

What is Self-Esteem? (10 minutes)

(Slide 3: What is Self-Esteem?)

"Great thoughts! Now, let's dive into what we mean by self-esteem. Has anyone heard that term before? What do you think it means?"

"(Listen to student responses and guide them toward a working definition). You got it! Self-esteem is your overall opinion of yourself – it's how much you value and like who you are. It's not about being perfect, or thinking you're better than everyone else. It's about having a realistic and positive view of your own worth."

"Think about it this way: In your head, do you have an 'Inner Coach' or an 'Inner Critic'?"

(Slide 4: Your Inner Voice Matters)

"That's right! Is your inner voice your cheerleader, always encouraging you, or your doubter, making you second-guess yourself? Our Inner Critic is that voice that tells us negative things, like 'You'll fail,' or 'You're not good enough.' But our Inner Coach is the voice that encourages and supports us, saying things like 'You can do it,' or 'Keep trying.'"

"Which voice do you think you listen to more often? Why do you think that is?"

Activity: Positive Self-Talk Practice (15 minutes)

(Slide 5: Positive Self-Talk Power-Up!)

"It's powerful, isn't it? The good news is, we can train our inner coach to be louder! That's where positive self-talk comes in. Positive self-talk is simply using encouraging and kind words when you talk to yourself. It's a superpower that helps build your self-esteem."

"Instead of saying 'I can't do this,' your Inner Coach can say, 'I'll try my best and learn from it.' See the difference?"

"Now, let's put this into practice! I'm going to hand out the Positive Self-Talk Activity Sheet."

(Distribute Positive Self-Talk Activity Sheet)

(Slide 6: Practice Makes Perfect)

"On this sheet, you'll get a chance to identify some challenges and then reframe any negative thoughts into positive ones. Think about an area where you might feel unsure. Then, how would your Inner Coach respond to that feeling? Finally, I want you to create some positive affirmations – these are positive statements about yourself."

"Take about 10 minutes to work on this independently. Then, you'll have a chance to share one of your favorite affirmations with a partner or in a small group. I'll be walking around to answer any questions and help you out."

(Allow students to work, circulate, and then facilitate sharing.)

Journal Reflection: My Inner Coach (10 minutes)

(Slide 7: My Inner Coach Journal)

"Wonderful sharing, everyone! It takes courage to put those positive thoughts into words. To continue building on this, we're going to take a few minutes for a journal reflection. I'm handing out the My Inner Coach Journal Prompt."

(Distribute My Inner Coach Journal Prompt)

"In your journal, I want you to reflect on a few things:

• What are 3 specific strengths you have? Really think about them!
• How can you use your Inner Coach to support yourself this week?
• Write down one new positive affirmation you will tell yourself regularly. This is just for you, so be honest and thoughtful."

(Allow students 10 minutes to write.)

Cool Down: One Word Wonder (5 minutes)

(Slide 8: One Word Wonder)

"Alright, let's wrap up our session today. For our cool-down, I want each of you to think of one word that describes how you feel about yourself or self-esteem after this lesson. It could be 'empowered,' 'hopeful,' 'strong,' 'aware,' 'ready,' 'valued,' 'confident' – any word that comes to mind."

"(Go around the room, or have students share out loud.)"

"Fantastic words! Remember, you are capable, you are valuable, and you truly are your own MVP. Keep practicing listening to that Inner Coach, and keep shining with your unique strengths. Great work today!"

Strengths Spotlight Warm-Up

Instructions: Think about yourself for a moment. What is one thing you are truly good at? It doesn't have to be something grand or a huge talent. It could be:

• A skill (e.g., drawing, solving puzzles, organizing)
• A positive quality (e.g., being a good listener, showing kindness, having a great sense of humor)
• A small accomplishment from this week (e.g., helping a friend, finishing a challenging homework problem, learning a new recipe)

Write down your strength below. Be proud of it!

My Strength:

Why is this a strength for me?

Positive Self-Talk Activity Sheet: Train Your Inner Coach!

Sometimes, our brains can be a bit like a chatty friend, and not always a kind one! We have an Inner Critic that points out flaws and an Inner Coach that cheers us on. Let's learn to make our Inner Coach louder!

Part 1: Identify Your Inner Critic

Think about a time recently when you felt unsure, worried, or down about something. What was happening? What negative thoughts did your Inner Critic say to you? (It's okay to write them down, we're going to challenge them!)

Situation:

What my Inner Critic said:

Part 2: Recruit Your Inner Coach

Now, let's turn those negative thoughts around! How would your Inner Coach respond to that situation? What positive, encouraging, or realistic things could you tell yourself instead?

How my Inner Coach would respond:

Part 3: Create Your MVP Affirmations

An affirmation is a positive statement you say about yourself to yourself. They help strengthen your Inner Coach. Complete these affirmations and then create two of your own!

1. I am good at _
   
   
   
2. When things are tough, I can _
   
   
   
3. I am proud of myself for _
   
   
   
4. My unique quality is _
   
   
   
5. I am capable of _
   
   
   

My Own MVP Affirmation #1:

My Own MVP Affirmation #2:

Part 4: Share & Shine!

Pick your favorite affirmation from Part 3. Be ready to share it with a partner or the class and explain why it resonates with you!

My Inner Coach Journal Prompt

Take some time to reflect on what we discussed today about self-esteem and your Inner Coach. This journal is for your eyes only, so be honest and thoughtful.

1. Recognizing My Strengths:

List at least three specific strengths you possess. These can be talents, personal qualities, things you're good at, or even areas where you've shown resilience. Describe why each of these is a strength for you.

2. Empowering My Inner Coach:

Think about the coming week. What is one challenge or difficult situation you might face? How can you actively use your Inner Coach to support yourself through it? Write down exactly what your Inner Coach would say to you.

Challenge/Situation:

What my Inner Coach will say:

3. My Personal Affirmation:

Write down one new positive affirmation that you will tell yourself regularly, starting today. Make it powerful and meaningful to you.

My Affirmation:

Cool Down: One Word Wonder

Instructions: Think about everything we discussed and explored today about self-esteem, strengths, and positive self-talk. In one single word, how do you feel about yourself or the concept of self-esteem now?

Write your one word below. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest reflection.

My One Word: