By urging students to examine their strengths, they can grow to be self-learners and by teaching them how to learn, they can be successful when they are on their own. Once a student  has learned how to acquire new skills, it can be reinforced in each subsequent lesson so the student learns how valuable it is to gain a new skill and that this is his or her “work” as a student.
Here are 3 basic lessons to help a student gain confidence in his or her ability to learn. These are written for K-1st grade but can be tailored for higher grades as needed. 
 Lessons on Ability:
Today,  we are going to discuss skills. We will learn what a skill is and how to learn new skills.
Model: Skills are those things we know how to do. For example, I know how to use a napkin, (take out a napkin and put it on the able.)  I also know how to pour water into the glass. (pour water into a glass.)  I know how to eat an apple (take a bite of an apple). There are many skills we learn at school and at home.
At school I am learning many new skills. I know for example, that this is the color blue (show something blue). and this is the color green. (show it)
When I have learned something that means I know it in my head (point to head) and I can do it with my body. (hold up hands). I have practiced it  many times and I am certain I can do it.
A skill is two things there are just two things. First, (hold up one hand and point to the head), we know how to do it, our brain has learned how to do it and second (teacher holds up her hands), we have practiced it so we can do it well with our bodies. 
Prompt: Let’s learn it together. A skill is what (say and do the motions with the students). That’s right it is something w learn with our brains (touch the head) and do with our bodies (hold up hands.)
Who can give me an example of a skill? (accept student responses). That’s correct, coloring is a skill. What else can you do? Good! you can write the letters. Can you also sing a song? What about — can you (run, skip, hop, eat , etc). What about listening? Do you know how to follow directions?
Now turn to your partner and tell him or her something that you know how to do very well. Do you know how to do it in your mind? Can you do with tight your body?
Please turn to your neighbor and tell them something you know you can do well.
Check:
What is a skill? Say it and show it all together. Good.
Raise your hand if you can think of a skill you have learned? (Call on various students to give answers.)
 
 
Teacher goes around and has a conversation with each partnership of  students about the student’s abilities and future achievements.
Students partner up and discuss their abilities and what they hope to achieve.
 
Second Lesson on Abilities and Skills of Kindergarten, 1st Grade, etc
 
Today, Class we are going to discuss our abilities. I would like you to consider your abilities. What do you feel you can do confidently? Really think about this. Look around the room. There are different activities in this room that require skills, that you have mastered or that you can easily master.
 Review: Make sure students have a clear idea of the definitions of each of these words: ability, a skill, learning, practice and “mastering a skill”, requirements and Kindergarten, accomplish, goal and achieve.  
 
Class, recall the skills you were confident about yesterday. Have them note to their partner.
 
Now the Teacher gets a partner for today’s exercise. She tells her partner what skills she acquired. Tells partner any difficulty she is having accomplishing the skill.  Together they work out how to accomplish the skill (such as cutting out paper or telling a story).
 
Now the Teacher goes around helping partnerships accomplish the exercise of telling  her partner what skills she acquired on the list. Tells partner any difficulty she is having accomplishing the skill.  Together the partners work out how to accomplish the skill (such as cutting out paper or telling a story).
 
Now you do it. Switch it around and your partner will tell you about his or her abilities and what she hopes to accomplish

 
Lesson 3 🙂 Parent’s Lesson/Homework with Tutor or Homework Assistant or Mentor
 
Now, begin learning the requirements for Kindergarten. These are the skills you need to accomplish. Teacher provides a “Kindergartener friendly” version of the list.
 
Review: Make sure students have a clear idea of the definitions of each of these words: ability, a skill, learning, practice and “mastering a skill”, requirements and Kindergarten, accomplish, goal and achieve.  
 
Class, recall the skills you were confident about yesterday. Have them note to their Homework Assistant, Parent or mentor.
(Teacher please note the California Core Standards for Kindergarten http://www.tcoe.k12.ca.us/ERS/CCSS/ELA/CCCSS_K.pdf)
In this Lesson parents, tutors or Homework Assistant’s need to come to the class to learn how to do it. Provide parents/tutors or homework assistants with the list of standards and guidance to make sure the student understands them (one on one tutoring) or tutoring from a student from a higher grade. The teacher models discussing and working what is on the list, then oversees as the partnerships go one way and practice the exercise, then turnabout and the opposite student has a chance to communicate. This is a daily exercise taking one item a time from the list.
Have the student keep this book and refer to it everyday.  This booklet or binder contains their work and work in progress. 2 copies: one at home and one at school.
 
At home, the parent picks one of the skills to work on each day with the student. It is ideal if this is related to what is being taught in school but may also be intense work on specific areas where improvement or coaching is needed.
 
In the classroom: Each day, go around the room and the students will communicate to one another the skills they are working on (that are on the list.) The student need only communicate to one other person. As needed, Teacher can model and help partnerships but it they learn to do it on their own. Once a week the classroom may present a student who has completed  a skill  and who is awarded.  This daily lesson takes about 15 minutes because the groups are small or partnerships. Weekly awards are longer, may include a party for the class. Students who have completed a skill turnabout to help others.