Organized or On-the-Fly?

Think about your daily routines and how you manage your schoolwork and responsibilities.

1. Describe your typical approach to organizing your school materials (backpack, binders, notes, etc.). Are you a super organizer, or do you tend to figure things out as you go?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. How do you keep track of your homework and deadlines? Do you use a planner, an app, sticky notes, or something else? Or do you just try to remember everything?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how organized do you feel generally? (1 = not at all organized, 5 = extremely organized)
   
   
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   5
   

4. How do you think being organized (or disorganized) impacts your stress levels or your ability to do your best in school?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Organize It! Match-Up

Instructions: Read each item on the left. On the line next to it, write the letter of the organizational strategy on the right that best matches it.

Items to Organize:

1. A messy backpack with crumpled papers and forgotten snacks.
   Strategy: ________
   
   
   

2. Having five different assignments due on the same day next week.
   Strategy: ________
   
   
   

3. You can't find your math homework because it's mixed with your English notes.
   Strategy: ________
   
   
   

4. Forgetting about a school event or an important test.
   Strategy: ________
   
   
   

5. Your desk at home is covered in books, art supplies, and old school papers.
   Strategy: ________
   
   
   

Organizational Strategies:

A. Use a Planner or Calendar: Write down all assignments, tests, and important dates.
B. Color-Code Binders/Folders: Assign a specific color to each subject to keep papers separate.
C. Designate a "Home Base": Have a specific, tidy spot for each type of item.
D. Clean-Out Routine: Regularly empty your backpack and organize your supplies.

My Advocacy Script: Practice Speaking Up!

Sometimes, you need to speak up for yourself to get what you need. This is called self-advocacy.

Think about a situation at school where you might need to advocate for yourself. This could be:

• Asking a teacher for clarification on an assignment.
• Requesting an extension for a valid reason.
• Explaining why you need a specific accommodation (e.g., sitting closer to the board).
• Asking for extra help with a difficult topic.

Your Task:

Choose ONE situation and write a short script of what you would say. Remember to be clear, respectful, and focused on your needs.

Situation:

Who would you talk to? (e.g., Teacher, Counselor, Principal, Parent, etc.)

What is your goal? (What do you hope to achieve by speaking up?)

My Advocacy Script: (Write out exactly what you would say, step-by-step. Think about starting with a polite greeting, clearly stating your need, and suggesting a solution.)

Reflection:

After writing your script, consider:

1. How do you feel imagining yourself saying this?
   
   
   
   

2. What might be challenging about speaking up in this situation?
   
   
   
   

Self-Advocacy Scenarios: What Would You Do?

Work with a partner or in a small group to discuss the following situations. For each scenario, think about:

• What is the student's need in this situation?
• Who should the student talk to?
• What specifically could the student say or do to advocate for themselves respectfully and effectively?
• What is the desired outcome?

Scenario 1: The Missing Assignment

You thought you turned in your science project, but your teacher says it's missing. You're sure you completed it, but you can't find proof in your bag right now.

Scenario 2: Too Much Homework

This week, you have a big test in math, a history essay due, and a book report for English, all due on the same day. You feel overwhelmed and worried you won't be able to do your best on everything.

Scenario 3: Clarification Needed

Your English teacher assigned a creative writing project, but the instructions are a bit confusing to you. You're not sure if you're supposed to write a story, a poem, or a play, and you don't want to start working on the wrong thing.

Scenario 4: Group Project Glitch

You're working on a group project, and one of your group members isn't doing their part. The deadline is approaching, and you're worried about your grade.

One Step Forward

Take a moment to think about today's lesson on organization and self-advocacy.

What is ONE concrete, actionable step you can take this week to improve your:

1. Organization? (e.g., "I will clean out my backpack every Friday.", "I will use a planner for all my homework.")
   
   
   
   

2. Self-Advocacy? (e.g., "I will ask one question in class this week.", "I will talk to my teacher if I don't understand something.")
   
   
   
   

Write down your two steps below. You can share them with a partner or just keep them for yourself as a personal goal!

Teacher Script: Your Advocacy Action Plan

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're diving into two super important skills that will help you rock school and life: organization and self-advocacy. Think of these as your superpowers for success.

Let's start with a quick warm-up called Organized or On-the-Fly?. I've handed out a short sheet (or you can write on a piece of paper). Take about 3 minutes to answer the questions honestly. There are no right or wrong answers, just your personal habits."

(Allow students 3 minutes to complete the warm-up.)

"Alright, let's hear a few thoughts. Who would like to share how they typically organize their materials? (Pause for responses) How about keeping track of homework? (Pause for responses) And how does being organized make you feel, or what happens when things are disorganized? (Facilitate a brief discussion, connecting to stress, missed assignments, etc.)"

Game: Organize It! Match-Up (5 minutes)

"Excellent reflections! Now, let's play a quick game to get our brains thinking even more about organization. I'm handing out a sheet called Organize It! Match-Up."

(Distribute the game sheets.)

"On this sheet, you'll see some common organizational challenges on the left and a list of strategies on the right. Your task is to match each challenge with the best organizational strategy. You can work individually or with a partner for about 3 minutes."

(Circulate and monitor.)

"Time's up! Let's quickly go over the answers. Who wants to share their match for number 1? (Go through answers quickly, reinforcing the correct strategies.) Great job, everyone! This helps us see how different strategies can solve different organizational problems."

What is Self-Advocacy? (8 minutes)

"Great job with the game! Now, let's transition to our Slide Deck: Your Advocacy Action Plan and talk about something called self-advocacy."

(Display Slide 4: What is Self-Advocacy?)

"Self-advocacy, simply put, is speaking up for yourself. It means you understand your own needs, you know what you need to succeed, and you can respectfully communicate those needs to others."

(Display Slide 5: Self-Advocacy In Action)

"Why is this so important? Because sometimes, adults, including your teachers, don't always know what you're thinking or struggling with. It's not because we don't care, but we can't read minds! It's your job to let us know. Think about these examples:

• If you're confused about an assignment, what's a good way to get help? (Prompt for answers: Ask the teacher, ask a classmate, re-read instructions.) Exactly! Asking the teacher for clarification is a perfect example of self-advocacy.
• What if you had a really tough weekend, maybe you were sick, and you couldn't finish a big project on time? What could you do? (Prompt for answers: Ask for an extension.) Yes! Politely explaining your situation and asking for an extension is advocating for yourself.
• Or maybe you struggle to see the board from the back of the room. What could you do? (Prompt for answers: Ask to move seats.) These are all powerful ways you can take control of your learning and get the support you need."

Activity: My Advocacy Script (7 minutes)

"Now, it's your turn to practice. We're going to do an activity called My Advocacy Script."

(Display Slide 6: My Advocacy Script)

"I want you to think of a situation where you might need to speak up for yourself at school. It could be something you've experienced, or something you can imagine. It might be asking for help, asking for more time, or explaining a challenge."

(Display Slide 7: Time to Practice!)

"On your activity sheet, first write down the situation, who you would talk to, and what your goal is. Then, I want you to write out exactly what you would say. Think of it like a mini-play. Start with a polite greeting, clearly state your need, and maybe even suggest a solution. You'll have about 5 minutes for this."

(Circulate, offer guidance, and answer questions.)

"Okay, who would be willing to share their advocacy script with the class? Remember, this is a safe space to practice, and we can all learn from each other. (Invite 1-2 volunteers to share, providing positive feedback and constructive suggestions.)"

Discussion: Self-Advocacy Scenarios (8 minutes)

"Fantastic work on your scripts! Now, let's take these skills a step further. We're going to work in pairs or small groups for a quick discussion activity called Self-Advocacy Scenarios."

(Distribute the discussion sheet or display the scenarios if using slides.)

"With your partners/groups, read through the scenarios. For each one, discuss: What is the student's need? Who should they talk to? What could they say or do? And what's the goal? You'll have about 6 minutes for your group discussions."

(Circulate, monitor discussions, and offer support.)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Can one or two groups share a quick insight or solution from one of the scenarios? What was a challenging situation, and how might someone advocate in that case?"

Cool-Down & Wrap-Up (7 minutes)

"Excellent participation in those discussions! To wrap things up, let's do a quick cool-down called One Step Forward."

(Display Slide 8: One Step Forward)

"On your sheet, I want you to write down ONE concrete step you can take this week to improve your organization, and ONE concrete step you can take to practice self-advocacy. These should be small, achievable goals."

(Allow 3-4 minutes for students to write.)

"You've identified some great steps. Remember, becoming organized and a good self-advocate takes practice. But by taking small steps, you're building habits that will help you succeed not just in 7th grade, but throughout your life. Thanks for your hard work today!"