As the calendar year draws to a close, it’s a pivotal time for high school students to reflect and recognize their personal strengths. This blog post outlines a lesson plan for high school special educators, centered around the “Free High School Discussion Prompts for Discovering Strengths” by Everyday Speech. It aims to guide students in identifying and appreciating their unique abilities and qualities.
The Importance of Recognizing Personal Strengths
Why Focus on Strengths?
Identifying personal strengths helps students build confidence, set realistic goals, and prepare for future challenges. It’s an essential step in personal development and self-awareness, particularly for high school students preparing for life beyond school.
Lesson Plan Overview
Objective: To facilitate high school students in discovering and appreciating their personal strengths using discussion prompts.
Materials Needed: “Free High School Discussion Prompts for Discovering Strengths” worksheet, pens, and paper.
Duration: 30-45 minutes.
The Lesson Plan
1. Introduction to Personal Strengths (5 minutes)
- Start with a discussion on the concept of personal strengths and their importance.
- Encourage students to think about qualities beyond academic skills, such as empathy, resilience, and creativity.
2. Discussion Prompt Activity (10-20 minutes)
- Distribute the “Free High School Discussion Prompts for Discovering Strengths” worksheets.
- Guide students through the prompts, encouraging them to reflect and write down their thoughts.
3. Group Sharing and Discussion (10-15 minutes)
- Create a safe and open space for students to share their identified strengths.
- Facilitate a group discussion, highlighting how these strengths can be applied in real-life situations.
4. Reflection and Future Planning (5 minutes)
- Encourage students to think about how they can use their strengths in future endeavors.
- Discuss setting goals for the coming year based on these strengths.
Conclusion
As high school special educators, guiding students to uncover their strengths is a valuable endeavor, especially as the year ends. The “Free High School Discussion Prompts for Discovering Strengths” worksheet provides a structured yet flexible approach to facilitate this discovery. By engaging in this reflective activity, students can gain a deeper understanding of their capabilities, setting a positive tone for the upcoming year.
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!
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Free High School Identifying Feelings Activity
Engaging Social Emotional Learning Games for High School Students
Teaching High School Students to Read the Situation: Social-Emotional Learning in Action
