Introduction

Self-advocacy is an essential skill for high school students as they navigate through various social and academic situations. By learning to advocate for themselves, students can effectively express their needs and make informed decisions. This blog post will introduce a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach self-advocacy skills, discuss related skills, and provide resources for further exploration.

No-Prep Activity: The Seat Swap

This activity helps students practice self-advocacy by simulating a common classroom situation where they need to express their needs. No materials or preparation is required, making it an ideal activity for busy educators.

1. Divide students into small groups of 3-5.
2. Ask each group to imagine they are in a classroom setting where one student, “Tyler,” is having difficulty focusing due to their seating arrangement.
3. Have each group role-play the following scenario:
   • Tyler approaches their classmates and politely asks if anyone would be willing to switch seats, explaining their difficulty focusing in their current location.
   • One classmate, “Serena,” agrees to switch seats with Tyler.
   • Tyler thanks Serena and acknowledges how advocating for themselves helped them get their needs met.
4. After each group has completed the role-play, bring everyone together for a group discussion using the provided discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

1. How did Tyler effectively advocate for their needs in the scenario? What specific language or actions were helpful?
2. Why is it important for students to develop self-advocacy skills in high school?
3. What are some potential challenges students might face when advocating for themselves? How can they overcome these challenges?
4. How can educators support students in developing and practicing self-advocacy skills?
5. Can you think of other situations where self-advocacy skills might be helpful for high school students? How would they apply these skills in those situations?

Related Skills

While self-advocacy is an important skill for students to develop, there are several other related skills that can enhance their overall social-emotional learning experience. Some of these skills include:

• Active Listening: Being able to listen and understand others’ perspectives is crucial when advocating for oneself. This skill helps students build empathy and fosters effective communication.
• Assertiveness: Assertiveness is the ability to express one’s needs, opinions, and feelings in a respectful and confident manner. This skill is closely related to self-advocacy and helps students navigate various social situations.
• Problem-Solving: Students who can effectively solve problems are better equipped to advocate for themselves. Problem-solving skills help students analyze situations, identify potential solutions, and make informed decisions.
• Decision-Making: As students advocate for themselves, they will need to make decisions that impact their well-being. Developing strong decision-making skills can help students weigh options and choose the best course of action.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of self-advocacy skills and a no-prep activity to use in your classroom, consider exploring additional resources to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey. To access free sample materials, including lessons and activities on self-advocacy and other related skills, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. These resources can help you create an engaging and supportive learning environment that empowers your high school students to thrive.