Grades 1–5
Affirmation of the Day
Say a new affirmation each day for a week and write one way you showed it.
SEL worksheet · Affirmations and self-esteem
Kind or Unkind Self-Talk?
Sort ten things kids say to themselves into kind self-talk and unkind self-talk, then rewrite two.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Self-esteem, Positive self-talk, Knowing your strengths, Confidence
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Self-talk is what you say to yourself in your head. Kind self-talk sounds like a good friend cheering you on.
- Circle Kind or Unkind.
- I can do hard things.
- Nobody likes me.
- I made a mistake, and that’s okay.
- I am proud of how hard I worked.
- I always mess up.
- I am learning a little more every day.
Words on this sheet
KindUnkindUnkind self-talkKind self-talk
Teacher tip
Ask kids what they would say to a friend instead.
How to use it
- Model kind self-talk out loud when you make a mistake.
- Use it for morning meeting once a week.
- Keep finished sheets in an SEL folder so kids can look back on their growth.
Watch for
Kids who struggle to name anything good about themselves. Help them with a specific example you have seen.
Talk about it
- What is something you are proud of?
- How might someone else see it differently?
Take it further
Record a class video of each child saying their favorite affirmation.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More affirmations and self-esteem worksheets
Grades K–2
Mirror Affirmations
Draw yourself smiling in the mirror, then trace and say three kind things about you.
Grades 1–4
Color My Strengths
Color every strength word that describes you, then write about a time you used your top strength.
Grades 1–4
Put-Up or Put-Down?
Put-ups build people up and put-downs knock them down. Circle put-up or put-down for ten things kids say.
Free for teachers
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