SEL in the Secondary Choral Classroom:

Self-Talk

Teacher Sample Slides

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Day 1/Piece 1

Objective:

I know what self-talk is and I begin to notice when I talk about myself internally.

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Self-talk is the internal dialogue we have with ourselves, which can influence our feelings and actions.

Class Discussion

1. Are you aware of when you form strong opinions about yourself?
2. Are there times when you have heard someone talk about themselves in a way that does not match your perception of them?
3. How do you think self-talk might affect how someone sings in a group or by themselves?

Homework

On a sticky note, in the notes app on your phone, or even just in your head, see if you can notice when you think about yourself and what your judgement of yourself is. Is it positive or negative? Is it fair and true to reality?

If it is difficult to think about yourself in these terms, see if you can notice when people around you form strong opinions about themselves.

Day 2/Piece 2

Objective:

I know what self-talk is and I can tell the difference between the three types of self-talk: negative, neutral, and positive.

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Negative Self-Talk: Internal dialogue that is critical, discouraging, or self-defeating, often leading to feelings of inadequacy or failure.

Neutral Self-Talk: Internal dialogue that is factual, objective, and non-judgmental, focusing on observations without emotional bias.

Positive Self-Talk: Internal dialogue that is encouraging, affirming, and supportive, promoting confidence and a positive mindset.

Examples of Different Types of Self-Talk

1. "I'm the worst singer in this choir." NEG NEU POS
2. "I'm still learning how to sing this part." NEG NEU POS
3. "I have a unique voice that adds to our choir's sound." NEG NEU POS
4. "I contribute to the choir, and my efforts matter." NEG NEU POS
5. "I'm going to embarrass myself during the performance." NEG NEU POS
6. "I don’t need to be perfect to be valuable.” NEG NEU POS
7. “I am worth the space I take up in this group.” NEG NEU POS

Choir Scenarios

Situation: A student feels nervous before a performance.

1. "I'm going to forget the lyrics and ruin the performance."
2. "It's normal to feel nervous before performing."
3. "I've practiced and I'm ready to perform. I can handle this."

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Situation: A student is preparing for a solo audition.

1. "I'm going to mess up and embarrass myself in front of everyone."
2. "I need to practice this part a few more times to feel more confident."
3. "I've prepared well, and I'm ready to give it my best shot."

Homework

On a sticky note, in the notes app on your phone, or even just in your head, see if you can notice when you think about yourself in a negative, neutral, or positive voice.

If it is difficult to think about yourself in these terms, see if you can notice when people around you speak about themselves in a negative, neutral, or positive voice.

Day 3/Piece 3

Objective:

I can identify negative self-talk and I can start to take steps to transform them into neutral or positive thoughts.

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Practice the idea of giving yourself time.

“I’m so bad at singing; I can’t even sight-read.” BECOMES “I’m still working on my singing; sight-reading is a good way to strengthen my skills.”

Transforming Self-Talk

Teacher Provided Example:

“My voice doesn’t matter to this choir.” BECOMES “________________________”

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Student Provided Example:

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Individual/Group Practice

Individually or in small groups (2-3 per group), practice transforming negative self-talk into neutral or positive.

Homework

On a sticky note, in the notes app on your phone, or even just in your head, continue to see if you can notice negative self-talk. If you can, jot it down and see if you can practice transforming this into neutral or positive self-talk.

If it is difficult to think about yourself in these terms, see if you can notice when people around you speak about themselves in a negative way and practice transforming this into neutral or positive language.