Teaching elementary students, especially those in special education, to advocate for themselves is a crucial skill. It empowers them to speak up for their needs and accommodations in the learning environment. This blog post offers a comprehensive lesson plan for elementary special education teachers, centered around Everyday Speech’s Free Elementary Self-Advocacy Material, including a printable worksheet with fill-in-the-blanks. This resource is designed to help students learn how to effectively communicate their needs.
Lesson Plan Overview
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: Speaking Up at School printable PDF, writing utensils
Objective: To help students understand and articulate their learning needs and accommodations.
Preparation Steps
- Download and print the “Speaking Up at School” worksheet for each student.
- Prepare a comfortable classroom setting conducive to open discussion.
Lesson Execution
- Introduction to Self-Advocacy (5 minutes): Explain what self-advocacy is and why it’s important for students to express their needs and accommodations.
- Worksheet Activity (10-15 minutes): Distribute the worksheets. Guide students through the fill-in-the-blank exercise. Stop and explore their answers.
- Group Discussion (10 minutes): Facilitate a discussion where students can share their thoughts. Encourage them to think of real-life situations where they could apply these skills.
Conclusion
Everyday Speech’s Free Elementary Self-Advocacy Material provides a valuable tool for elementary special education teachers. This lesson plan empowers students to confidently communicate their learning needs, fostering a sense of independence and self-awareness vital for their academic and personal growth.
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 Direct and Indirect Language Skills to Elementary Students
Teaching Elementary Students to Understand and Manage Their Feelings
