Lesson Plan

Is Your Inner Coach Speaking?

Students will identify negative self-talk, practice catching and replacing it with empowering statements, and apply positive self-talk strategies to build resilience and a growth mindset.

Positive self-talk supports emotional regulation and behavior management by helping students reframe challenges and develop confidence, promoting a healthier classroom climate and lifelong resilience.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mindset Mingle

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Talk

5 minutes

Step 3

Catch & Replace Activity

15 minutes

Step 4

Group Share

5 minutes

Step 5

Closing Reflection

10 minutes

Lesson Plan

Is Your Inner Coach Speaking? Lesson Plan

Students will identify negative self-talk, practice catching and replacing it with empowering statements, and apply positive self-talk strategies to build resilience and a growth mindset.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mindset Mingle

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Talk

5 minutes

Step 3

Catch & Replace Activity

15 minutes

Step 4

Group Share

5 minutes

Step 5

Closing Reflection

10 minutes

Slide Deck

Self-Talk Superpowers

Welcome students to our lesson on self-talk. Explain that today we’ll learn what self-talk is, why it matters, and how to become our own inner coach.

What Is Self-Talk?

Define self-talk and invite students to share thoughts they’ve had when trying something new. Emphasize that everyone has an inner voice.

Inner Coach vs Inner Critic

Contrast the inner critic vs. the inner coach. Ask volunteers to give examples from their own experience.

Why Positive Self-Talk Matters

Discuss each benefit of positive self-talk. Share a quick personal story of using positive talk to overcome nerves.

From Negative to Positive

Show how small changes transform the message. Invite students to suggest their own negative-to-positive shifts.

How to Catch & Replace

Walk through each step of catching and replacing negative self-talk. Model aloud: “I’ll never get this” → “I can take it one step at a time.”

Discussion Prompts

Use questions drawn from the [Teacher Self-Talk Prompts Script](#teacher-self-talk-prompts-script) to guide a short discussion. Encourage multiple voices.

Next Up: Catch & Replace Activity

Explain the upcoming activity: pairs will practice catching and replacing negative thoughts. Remind them to be creative on chart paper.

Lesson Plan

Is Your Inner Coach Speaking?

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mindset Mingle

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Talk

Step 3

Catch & Replace Activity

Step 4

Group Share

Step 5

Closing Reflection

Lesson Plan

Is Your Inner Coach Speaking? Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mindset Mingle

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Talk

Step 3

Catch & Replace Activity

Step 4

Group Share

Step 5

Closing Reflection

Slide Deck

Self-Talk Superpowers

What Is Self-Talk?

Inner Coach vs Inner Critic

Why Positive Self-Talk Matters

From Negative to Positive

How to Catch & Replace

Discussion Prompts

Next Up: Catch & Replace Activity

Script

Activity

Warm Up

Is Your Inner Coach Speaking?

Nicole Green