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GO BACK All Goal Posters THIS SKILL Self-Esteem THIS GOAL Thinking Positive

Thinking Positive

Thinking Positively battles the cycle of negative feelings that can trick a mind into staying negative. This unit covers identifying negative feelings, and utilizing the power of using positive self-talk to overcome negative thinking.

Preview an SEL skills lesson: Thinking Positive

1 Show the video to your students

00:00:17.821 –> 00:00:19.613
Using Self-Talk

00:00:23.998 –> 00:00:25.593
Britt:
Hello, students!

00:00:25.726 –> 00:00:28.281
Did you know we can make
ourselves feel better

00:00:28.329 –> 00:00:30.581
by saying nice things
in our head?

00:00:30.984 –> 00:00:32.603
It’s called Self-Talk!

00:00:33.478 –> 00:00:36.973
We’re going to use self-talk
while we do color breathing.

00:00:37.191 –> 00:00:39.625
Picture the colors
as I say them.

00:00:40.375 –> 00:00:43.511
I’m breathing in
calm, blue air.

00:00:43.559 –> 00:00:45.182
I feel great today!

00:00:45.814 –> 00:00:49.625
Now picture breathing out
red, stressful air.

00:00:50.645 –> 00:00:51.707
Great job!

00:00:53.465 –> 00:00:55.061
I see my friend Spike!

00:01:01.637 –> 00:01:02.676
Uh-oh!

00:01:02.772 –> 00:01:05.799
You look like you’re telling
yourself angry things.

00:01:06.637 –> 00:01:08.426
If you change
how you talk to yourself,

00:01:08.671 –> 00:01:10.024
you might feel better.

00:01:11.807 –> 00:01:14.504
My friend Sebastian
is learning how to tell himself

00:01:14.544 –> 00:01:16.429
nice things to feel better.

00:01:20.681 –> 00:01:21.926
Miguel:
I love this book!

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Have you read it?

00:01:23.584 –> 00:01:25.000
Sebastian:
I don’t want to read.

00:01:25.339 –> 00:01:28.269
Miguel: I can read
bigger books than this.

00:01:30.799 –> 00:01:32.070
Sebastian:
I’m bad at this.

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I don’t like reading.

00:01:36.831 –> 00:01:38.923
Britt: Everybody,
get your thumbs ready.

00:01:39.785 –> 00:01:44.625
Give me a thumbs up
if Sebastian said kind words to himself

00:01:45.015 –> 00:01:47.906
or a thumbs down if he didn’t.

00:01:50.693 –> 00:01:52.191
No, he didn’t!

00:01:53.344 –> 00:01:55.581
Let’s see how
Sebastian is feeling.

00:01:56.528 –> 00:01:59.286
Sebastian:
I’m never gonna learn to read.

00:02:00.705 –> 00:02:02.240
Britt: Sebastian
needs to practice

00:02:02.300 –> 00:02:03.898
saying kind things

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that will help him
feel better.

00:02:06.686 –> 00:02:08.668
Should Sebastian try again?

00:02:09.616 –> 00:02:11.489
Okay, let’s watch!

00:02:17.288 –> 00:02:18.378
Miguel:
I love this book!

00:02:18.429 –> 00:02:19.661
Have you read it?

00:02:20.460 –> 00:02:23.450
Sebastian: It’s okay
that I can’t read big words.

00:02:23.611 –> 00:02:24.903
I’m learning.

00:02:25.850 –> 00:02:27.034
What does it say?

00:02:27.340 –> 00:02:29.661
Miguel:
See… the… bird.

00:02:29.870 –> 00:02:31.186
Sebastian:
I have a bird.

00:02:31.298 –> 00:02:32.942
Miguel:
Does it look like this one?

00:02:36.976 –> 00:02:41.138
Britt: Did Sebastian say
nice words to himself to feel better?

00:02:43.018 –> 00:02:44.407
He did!

00:02:44.540 –> 00:02:46.973
Those nice words were true too!

00:02:47.461 –> 00:02:49.467
Let’s see
how he’s feeling now.

00:02:51.008 –> 00:02:52.760
Sebastian:
I will be good at reading.

00:02:52.881 –> 00:02:54.625
I just have to learn!

00:02:56.395 –> 00:02:59.274
Britt: Sebastian said
kind words to himself.

00:02:59.673 –> 00:03:01.259
Now he feels better!

00:03:01.819 –> 00:03:04.625
We always want
to talk kindly to ourselves!

00:03:08.223 –> 00:03:11.973
Spike, try to tell yourself
kind words to feel better.

00:03:12.388 –> 00:03:13.374
You can say,

00:03:13.414 –> 00:03:16.562
“It was just an accident.
I’m okay.”

00:03:27.594 –> 00:03:30.097
Now you look
much happier, Spike!

00:03:32.194 –> 00:03:33.959
If you get upset or sad,

00:03:34.010 –> 00:03:36.780
try telling yourself
nice things to feel better.

00:03:37.497 –> 00:03:39.128
Hope to see you again soon!

2 Review with the Companion Worksheet
3 Apply new skills with activities & games!

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Other SEL materials on Thinking Positive
Feeling Good About Ourselves Video
Feeling Good About Ourselves

Pre-k and K

Bulletin Board: Your Best Selfie Activity
Bulletin Board: Your Best Selfie

Middle & High School

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