National School Counseling Week is an opportune time to reflect on the impactful role counselors play in nurturing the academic and personal growth of students. This year, let’s focus on instilling a growth mindset with the concept of the “Power of Yet.” This blog outlines a simple, no-prep lesson plan centered around an engaging digital social-emotional learning (SEL) video titled “I’m Not Good At This… Yet,” designed specifically for elementary students.

Lesson Plan Overview

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Access to the digital SEL video (see below), discussion prompts (PDF download)

Objective: To help students understand the concept of the “Power of Yet” and how it can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

Preparation Steps

1. Ensure you have the necessary technology to show the digital SEL video to your class.
2. Review the video beforehand to familiarize yourself with its content and the key messages about the growth mindset.
3. Prepare the discussion prompt PDF for student pairs, small groups, or large group.

Lesson Execution

• Introduction to Growth Mindset (5 minutes): Begin with a brief explanation of growth mindset versus fixed mindset, emphasizing the importance of believing in our ability to learn and grow.

• Viewing the SEL Video (5 minutes): Show the “I’m Not Good at This… Yet” video to the students from Everyday Speech’s SEL curriculum. The video features real student actors and fun animations to illustrate the “Power of Yet” in an accessible and engaging way.

• Group Discussion (10-20 minutes): Facilitate an insightful discussion among students about the video. Use the prepared discussion prompt PDF to guide the conversation, encouraging students to share personal experiences and reflections on how adopting a “yet” mindset can impact their learning and problem-solving.

Additional Discussion Prompts:

• Can you think of a time when you thought you couldn’t do something? How does adding “yet” to that thought change how you feel about it?
• Why is it important to believe that you can learn and improve?
• How can the “Power of Yet” help us face new challenges?

Conclusion

The “Power of Yet” is a simple concept with the potential to significantly impact students’ approach to learning and growth. By integrating this lesson into your National School Counseling Week activities, you’re not just teaching students a new phrase; you’re helping them develop a mindset that will support their resilience and perseverance throughout their academic journey and beyond.

“I’m Not Good at This… Yet” Video Lesson

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video lesson below from our SEL curriculum. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

Related Blog Posts:

Everyday Speech SEL Curriculum

Social Communication Curriculum

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