Middle schoolers are at a turning point—not quite kids, not quite teens. At this age, self-esteem can dip, peer comparison increases, and students begin to define themselves more clearly through both strengths and struggles.

That’s why this Honoring My Strengths Worksheet is such a powerful entry point for teaching self-advocacy. Before students can speak up for what they need, they have to recognize what they’re good at—and feel proud of it.

This free activity supports middle schoolers in building self-awareness and using it as a foundation for stronger, more confident communication.

In this article, you’ll find:

• A look at how strengths-based reflection builds self-advocacy
• A walkthrough of the worksheet’s key prompts
• Teaching strategies and classroom discussion ideas
• A free printable download for immediate use

Why Focus on Strengths First?

When we ask students to advocate for themselves, we’re asking them to recognize their needs and assert them—but many won’t get there unless they’ve also built a foundation of self-worth. This is especially true in middle school, when students may be highly aware of their weaknesses but less confident naming what makes them strong.

A strengths-based approach does more than make students feel good:

• It helps them identify internal resources to lean on in tough moments
• It builds the self-trust required to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable
• It balances out negative self-talk or comparisons with a clearer self-image

Self-advocacy without self-knowledge risks becoming either reactive or dependent. But when students know what makes them unique, they can more easily ask for what supports their success.

What’s Inside the “Honoring My Strengths” Worksheet?

This worksheet invites students to reflect on their individual traits, areas for growth, and interpersonal strengths. It’s short, approachable, and built to start a larger conversation.

Key prompts include:

• Name 3 strengths of yours: A moment of positive self-recognition. Students may name personality traits, academic skills, or interpersonal abilities.
• What is one thing that is challenging for you that you’d like to practice? Normalizes struggle and frames it as something to work on—not something to hide.
  Give yourself or a group member a compliment: Encourages kind language, community support, and peer connection.
• Reflect: How can you honor your strengths each day? Helps students start translating self-awareness into action—like self-advocating for learning strategies that align with their strengths.

🟡 Teaching Tip: Let students complete the worksheet privately at first, then invite voluntary sharing or small-group discussion to create a safe, supportive environment.

How to Use This Worksheet in Your Classroom

This activity works well as part of a communication or reflection-focused lesson, or as a standalone tool to help students better understand themselves and how they learn best.

Here’s a sample flow you can follow:

1. Start with a strengths brainstorm

Ask students:

• “What does it mean to have a strength?”
• “Why is it hard to name our strengths sometimes?”

Have them share examples—social skills, academic abilities, creative talents, or character traits—and write them down as a class list to spark ideas.

2. Complete the worksheet independently

Set the tone for quiet, honest reflection. Emphasize that this isn’t a test—just a chance to think about what makes each student unique. For students who prefer to draw, allow creative responses alongside written ones.

3. Facilitate discussion and connection

Give students opportunities to share their strengths or offer compliments to a classmate. Use this as a bridge to talk about how understanding our strengths helps us navigate challenges and communicate more clearly with others:

• “Because I’m organized, I use a checklist to manage group work.”
• “Since I work better with visuals, I ask for examples when I get stuck.”

Why This Resource Works

This worksheet isn’t just about self-praise—it’s about creating a bridge between self-knowledge and self-expression. It helps students:

• Build vocabulary around their abilities and challenges
• See struggle as a normal and expected part of learning
• Develop the confidence needed to ask for support when they need it

By honoring their strengths, students are better equipped to take ownership of their learning, advocate for themselves, and treat others with the same respect.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like self-advocacy. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching self-advocacy from our curriculum: