Lesson Plan
Brain Boss Bootcamp Lesson Plan
Enable the 11th-grade student to identify executive function challenges, learn concrete organization and time-management strategies, set a SMART academic goal, and create a personalized action plan for improved task completion within one week.
Students with executive function disabilities often struggle to plan, prioritize, and complete tasks. This session builds self-regulation skills, reduces overwhelm, and empowers the student to take ownership of their workload for long-term academic success.
Audience
11th Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided one-on-one counseling with targeted worksheets and planning tools.
Materials
- Executive Function Strategies Worksheet, - Personalized Goal Setting Worksheet, - Brain Boss Planner Template, and - Timer or Stopwatch
Prep
Prepare Materials and Review Student Profile
5 minutes
- Print or open the following materials:
- Review the student’s current planner entries and recent assignments to identify common organizational challenges.
- Set up a timer or stopwatch for timed planning exercises.
Step 1
Check-In and Identify Challenges
5 minutes
- Greet the student and create a supportive atmosphere.
- Ask the student to describe their biggest challenges in organizing tasks and managing deadlines.
- Note the top two difficulties (e.g., forgetting assignments, poor time estimation).
- Reference their current planner to pinpoint gaps in usage.
Step 2
Introduce EF Strategies
8 minutes
- Present key strategies from the Executive Function Strategies Worksheet: task chunking, prioritization, use of reminders, and progress checkpoints.
- Discuss each strategy briefly and ask the student to highlight which resonate most.
- Encourage the student to think of real examples where a chosen strategy could help.
Step 3
Set SMART Goals
7 minutes
- Guide the student through the Personalized Goal Setting Worksheet.
- Define one academic goal for the upcoming week, ensuring it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Break the goal into 3–4 actionable steps and record them.
Step 4
Create Action Plan in Planner
7 minutes
- Using the Brain Boss Planner Template, have the student schedule each action step into specific days and times.
- Set realistic deadlines for each step and add reminders.
- Use the timer or stopwatch to practice estimating how long one step will take and adjust the schedule if needed.
Step 5
Reflection and Next Steps
3 minutes
- Ask the student to reflect and answer:
- Which strategy will you implement first?
- What obstacles might you face?
- How will you monitor your progress?
- Have the student write brief answers on their goal-setting worksheet.
- Confirm a follow-up check-in to review progress next week.
Slide Deck
Brain Boss Bootcamp
Individual Counseling for Executive Function Success
Welcome the student and introduce the Brain Boss Bootcamp. Explain that over the next 30 minutes they’ll identify their biggest executive function challenges, explore proven strategies, set a SMART goal, and build a concrete plan.
Session Agenda
- Check-In & Identify Challenges
- Executive Function Strategies
- Set a SMART Goal
- Plan Action Steps
- Reflect & Next Steps
Quickly walk through today’s agenda so the student knows what to expect and stays focused.
Check-In: Your Challenges
What are your biggest challenges with:
• Organizing assignments?
• Managing deadlines?
• Estimating task time?
Prompt the student to share openly. Jot down their top two difficulties to refer back to later.
Common EF Challenges
• Forgetting assignments or steps
• Under- or overestimating how long tasks take
• Difficulty prioritizing what matters most
• Feeling overwhelmed and procrastinating
Briefly describe each challenge. Ask if the student experiences any of these to normalize their struggles.
Key EF Strategies
• Task Chunking: Break a big task into smaller, manageable steps
• Prioritization: Identify and tackle high-impact tasks first
• Reminders & Checkpoints: Use alarms, calendar alerts, and mini-deadlines
• Progress Monitoring: Track each step’s completion
Introduce each strategy with a quick definition and ask the student which one they’d most like to try.
Setting SMART Goals
Specific • Measurable • Achievable • Relevant • Time-bound
Use the Personalized Goal Setting Worksheet to craft your goal.
Explain the SMART framework and show how each letter ensures clear, reachable goals.
Example SMART Goal
Goal: Complete biology lab report draft by next Thursday.
Steps:
- Outline report (30 min)
- Write introduction & methods (1 hr)
- Draft analysis & discussion (1 hr)
- Review & edit (45 min)
Walk through this example step-by-step. Then invite the student to create their own using the worksheet.
Plan Your Action Steps
Using the Brain Boss Planner Template:
• Schedule each step on specific days/times
• Add calendar alerts or alarms
• Estimate time, then track actual duration
Guide the student to transfer their SMART goal steps into the planner. Emphasize realistic timing and reminders.
Reflection & Next Steps
- Which strategy will you implement first?
- What obstacles might you face?
- How will you monitor your progress?
Write your answers on your worksheets and plan a follow-up check-in.
Encourage honest reflection and set up accountability for next week’s check-in.
Worksheet
Executive Function Strategies Worksheet
Use this worksheet to explore and personalize key strategies for improving your organization and task management. For each strategy, read the description, answer the prompts, and plan how you will apply it to your own work.
1. Task Chunking
Break larger assignments into smaller, manageable steps to reduce overwhelm and make progress more visible.
a. Identify one upcoming or current assignment/project you find overwhelming:
b. List at least 3 smaller steps you could take to complete that assignment. Be as specific as possible:
2. Prioritization
Decide which tasks are most important and time-sensitive so you tackle high-impact work first.
a. List three tasks or assignments you need to complete this week:
b. Assign each task a priority ranking (1 = highest priority, 3 = lowest priority):
Task 1 Priority: ___ Task 2 Priority: ___ Task 3 Priority: ___
3. Reminders & Checkpoints
Use alarms, calendar alerts, or self-set mini-deadlines to keep yourself on track.
a. List three specific reminders or checkpoints you could set for the assignment you chunked above. For each, note the date/time or method (e.g., phone alarm, sticky note):
4. Progress Monitoring
Track your actual progress to adjust your plan and stay accountable.
a. Choose one step from your chunked list. How will you measure or record your completion? (e.g., check off on planner, log time spent):
b. What will you do if you notice you’re falling behind? Describe one adjustment strategy:
5. Reflection & Strategy Selection
a. Which two strategies on this worksheet do you think will help you the most? Explain why for each:
- Strategy: ____________________ Why: __________________________________________________
- Strategy: ____________________ Why: __________________________________________________
b. How and when will you check in on your progress? Describe your plan:
Good luck! Use these strategies consistently to build stronger executive functioning skills. For more goal-setting support, see the Personalized Goal Setting Worksheet.
Worksheet
Personalized Goal Setting Worksheet
Use this worksheet to create a clear, actionable academic goal using the SMART framework. Then break it down into steps, set deadlines, and plan how you will stay on track.
1. Define Your SMART Goal
Specific: What exactly will you accomplish?
Measurable: How will you know when you’ve achieved it? (e.g., number, grade, draft completed)
Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you right now?
Relevant: How does this goal connect to your larger academic or personal objectives?
Time-bound: By what date or time will you complete this goal?
Final SMART Goal Statement:
By __________________________________________ (date), I will _____________________________________________________________.
2. Break Your Goal into Action Steps
List 3–4 smaller tasks needed to reach your goal. For each, assign a deadline (date/time).
- Step 1: _____________________________________________________
Deadline: ____________________
- Step 2: _____________________________________________________
Deadline: ____________________
- Step 3: _____________________________________________________
Deadline: ____________________
- Step 4: _____________________________________________________
Deadline: ____________________
3. Plan Reminders & Supports
a. What reminders or tools will you use to keep on track? (e.g., calendar alerts, alarms, sticky notes)
b. Who can support or check in with you?
4. Anticipate Challenges & Adjustments
a. Identify two potential obstacles you might face:
2. __________________________________________________________
b. If you fall behind, what adjustment will you make?
5. Track Your Progress
How will you measure success for each step?
(e.g., checking off in your planner, logging hours, sharing drafts)
When and how will you review your progress?
(e.g., daily check-ins, weekly review with counselor)
6. Transfer to Your Planner
Transfer each action step and deadline into the Brain Boss Planner Template.
Add reminders or alerts for each deadline and schedule regular progress reviews.
Good luck! Keep this worksheet and your planner visible to stay motivated and accountable.
Worksheet
Brain Boss Planner Template
Use this planner to schedule each action step from your SMART goal, set deadlines, add reminders, and track completion throughout the week.
Weekly Action Schedule
| Day | Date | Action Steps (with Time) | Reminder/Alert | Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | __________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Tuesday | __________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Wednesday | _________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Thursday | _________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Friday | __________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Saturday | _________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
| Sunday | __________ | 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ | ________________________________ | [ ] |
Daily Detailed Planner
Date: ____________________
| Time Slot | Task / Step Description | Reminder Method (alarm, note, etc.) | Est. Duration | Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (e.g., 8–11am) | ________________________________ | ________________________________ | ____________ | [ ] |
Afternoon (e.g., 12–3pm) | ________________________________ | ________________________________ | ____________ | [ ]
Late Afternoon (e.g., 3–6pm) | _____________________________ | ________________________________ | ____________ | [ ]
Evening (e.g., 6–9pm) | ________________________________ | ________________________________ | ____________ | [ ]
Reflection & Adjustments
1. What went well today?
2. What challenges did you face?
3. How will you adjust tomorrow’s plan?
4. Next Day’s Key Reminders:
Keep this planner visible, review it each morning, and check off completed steps to stay on track. Good luck, Brain Boss!