Welcome, special education teachers! In this blog post, we will explore a middle school self-control visual resource, the Self-Controller Scanner! We’ll provide a comprehensive lesson plan, as well as an engaging and helpful goal poster that can be easily incorporated into your classroom routine. By integrating the Self-Controller Scanner, we can empower students to regulate their emotions, enhance focus, and cultivate a positive learning environment.
Understanding the Importance of Self-Control
Before delving into the lesson plan, it’s crucial to explain the significance of self-control to your students. You can begin with a class discussion on how self-control impacts their daily lives, both in and out of school. Encourage students to share personal experiences and reflect on the benefits of practicing self-control.
The Self-Controller Scanner is a visual and interactive resource that enables students to monitor and regulate their emotions effectively. Explain the concept of the scanner, which acts as a metaphorical device to identify and analyze their emotions. This engaging tool helps students develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills.
Middle School Self-Control Visual & Lesson Plan
Objective: Middle schoolers will develop self-control skills using the Self-Controller Scanner Goal Poster by understanding and applying the three steps to maintain self-control.
- Introduce the Lesson
- Begin the lesson by engaging students in a discussion about the importance of self-control. Ask questions such as:
- Why is self-control important in our daily lives?
- How does self-control affect our relationships and academic performance?
2. Introduce the Self-Controller Scanner Poster
- Explain the three steps covered on the poster:
- Step 1: Scan your brain and body – Encourage students to recognize and be aware of their emotions and physical sensations when they feel they’re losing self-control.
- Step 2: Pick a strategy to get back in control – Introduce a variety of self-control strategies (deep breathing, counting to ten, taking a break, etc.) and explain that students can choose a strategy that works best for them in each situation.
- Step 3: Take the steps you need to get back in control – Emphasize the importance of taking action by implementing the chosen strategy to regain self-control.
3. Step-by-Step Exploration
- Divide the class into small groups or pairs. Assign each group one step from the poster.
- Instruct each group to discuss and brainstorm examples related to their assigned step.
- Provide guiding questions, such as:
- What are some common emotions or physical sensations you might experience when you need to exercise self-control?
- What are some effective strategies or techniques that can help regain self-control?
- Can you provide examples of steps students can take to get back in control?
4. Student Reflection & Closing
- Lead a brief discussion reflecting on the importance of the Self-Controller Scanner and the strategies discussed.
- Have students share their insights and takeaways from the lesson.
- Remind them that self-control is a skill that can be developed with practice and conscious effort.
Sample Video
Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!
Related Blog Posts:
Teaching Self-Control Skills to Middle School Students
