The Newsletter of the Materials Writers
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Volume 15[3] December 2007

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Positive Self-Concepts Model

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Positive Self-Concepts Model

Quick Guide
Key Words :
Positive Self-Concepts Model, Oral communications and culture
Learner English Level : University / High-level 3rd year high school
Learner Maturity Level : University
Preparation time : 30 minutes
Materials : Cultural stories. ( Recommended is Momo the Peach boy for Japanese Students )

The positive concepts model is an information processing approach to learning. The positive concepts model calls of the learners to categorize information, relating it to other concepts that have been introduced. This leads to the formation of larger concepts. In the model there is also a concentration on the learning achieving concept attainment, whereby the learner will comprehend various concepts as they are correlated throughout a variety of subject areas ("Models", n.d.).

Procedure:
This lesson will focus on instruction that is based on the positive self concepts model. It is intended to ensure that the positive self concepts students have are developed or reinforced throughout the lesson. For this reason the lesson will focus on culture and cultural associations as a means of supporting individual identity within a community. The Teacher will present one short story from his/her culture and one of students in the classroom. To support the learning, the teacher will also provide visual support for the:

• stories throughout the classroom that identify with the students
• At the conclusion of each story the teacher will provide cultural information related to the story and each student will be asked to comment on the cultural value of the story, as well as provide any information about the story that is important to the culture
• Following the reading of each story the students will be asked to share another story, in their own words, that is culturally significant for them
• Following this segment of the lesson the students will discuss the story's importance, as well as the personal impact that the story may or may not have had on their lives
• The teacher will use each story as a means of the students developing cultural awareness of one another and prompting their positive self concepts in the educational and social environment

Practice:
The students will be asked to work in groups following the discussion to develop a story that demonstrates the cultural in a positive nature. This will be a continuing element of the lesson that will offer the students an opportunity to present their stories in another class time.

Discussion:
The students and teacher will participate in discussion as a class, with teacher guidance. Later the students will be involved in group discussions in order to create their story on culture.

Evaluation:
The students will be evaluated based on the cultural awareness that they develop, as well as the process of sharing their personal concepts of their culture.

Conclusion:
This Lesson plan serves two purposes, one it's a lesson plan that can be used in classes and two it's a lesson plan that can be looked at as a good example of what actually constitutes a lesson plan that utilizes the Positive Self Concepts Model approach. Because the lesson presents a need for categorization of concepts and the application of those concepts to a larger subject in the curriculum it fits the purpose of the model. It has been successfully used for classes ranging in size from 5-50, and has been used in both (High-level 3rd year) high school classes and University level classes.

References
Models of teaching instruction. (n.d.). Valdosta.
Retrieved November 15, 2007, from the Internet.

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