About This Lesson
When we notice and name each other's strengths, the whole community benefits from improved relationships.
Set up a Strength Spotting bulletin board in a central location. This can be done in person or virtually on Canva. Include slips of paper or digital icons with each of the 24 strengths.
Encourage all members of the community to recognize and appreciate strengths in themselves and one another. When you see someone in your community—a family member, friend, neighbor, community member, etc.—display a Character Strength, write their name under the strength you saw them display, and add it to your bulletin board.
This printable resource can help you implement Strength Spotting, a positive intervention about noticing and celebrating what's right in yourself and others. It can also help create a positive school-wide culture. Imagine the positivity that could ripple through our exchanges if we started leading with our own strengths and spotting the strengths of others.
Here's what you'll get:
- Printable bulletin board slips
- Digital resources for implementing Character Strengths & Strength Spotting in the classroom
- Access to Strength Spotting lesson plans and a unit study
Why you'll love this activity:
*Focusing on what is right about ourselves and others tremendously impacts our wellbeing and community relationships and engagement.
* *The slips are easy to print and customize in your classroom
* You can use this resource as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study.
* The associated free unit study for Strength Spotting comes with activities, downloadable worksheets, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Ways to Use
- Display in your classroom or learning space, administrative offices, or staff rooms
- Use to support a positive school culture
- Incorporate into SEL curriculum
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Families can use this at home, too!
What is Strength Spotting?
Humans have a biological need to be seen and appreciated for who we are at our core — in other words, our Signature Strengths. Positive Psychology researchers Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson created the Values in Action Survey or The VIA. This 96-item VIA survey identifies your capacity to exhibit each of 24 Character Strengths. These 24 strengths were identified as being valued by humans across many cultures and holding value throughout history.
Strength Spotting builds on the skill of Character Strengths, moving you from simply becoming AWARE of your strengths to EXPLORING and APPLYING them more intentionally. Strength Spotting is the skill of noticing, describing, and appreciating the Character Strengths in yourself and those around you. This skill encourages you to see people as an orchestra of strengths by shining the light on what is best with the people around you and in your community. This practice not only benefits you—it also helps others, including students with autism, increase their capacity to put their strengths into action in beneficial ways. Let's shine a light on what is RIGHT with us and those around us so we might all flourish together.
The Science of Strength Spotting
The evidence is clear — knowing and using your strengths positively impacts your life. If you keep your strengths top of mind and live them each day, you're significantly more likely to thrive. People who know their strengths and utilize the practice of Strength Spotting experience:
- Enhanced overall wellbeing and life satisfaction
- Greater happiness and less depression
- Greater relationship satisfaction
- Less stress and reduced anxiety
- Higher levels of positive work experiences
- Increased intrinsic motivation and engagement
Looking for more Strength Spotting resources?
* Explore the free Strength Spotting Unit Study, which comes with teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Proof Positive's resources are and will always be free. Be well!
★Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
