Positive Self-Talk word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this positive self-talk puzzle set for my 2nd and 3rd graders during our social-emotional learning unit. The kids could be hard on themselves but had no idea what words like positive, self-talk, or believe meant when we talked about the voice inside our heads. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like positive, self-talk, believe, can do it, try, strong, smart, kind, brave, and I can. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the positive self-talk vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether saying "I can do it" actually helps you do it. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple smiling face, star, and mirror drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one positive thing they can say to themselves on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.