Summary: This is another quick lesson, focused on self-advocacy. The lesson starts with a brief self-reflection before moving into definitions and the differences between self-advocacy and picking fights. Then the focus shifts to the three key elements of self-advocacy– understanding your needs, knowing what helps, and communicating that to others. The students then give self-advocacy advice to hypothetical students before answering a series of questions about challenges they are currently facing– and then using those to interview and be interviewed by a classmate. For the extension activity, students can engage in self-advocacy by emailing a teacher or create posters/sheets on what supports are beneficial for them.

Teaching notes: Students often need significant prompting on the interview section. They tend to write down that they have no challenges in school so check it before they do the peer interview.

Approximate length: 60-80 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.