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Brain on Track

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Tracy Roe

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Custom Planning Blueprint

In this 20-minute one-on-one session, the student will break down a current assignment into manageable steps, create a visual timeline, and prioritize tasks using personalized planning tools.

Developing clear planning and prioritization skills helps students manage complex tasks, reduces overwhelm, and improves follow-through, setting a foundation for stronger executive function and academic success.

Audience

8th Grade Student

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Hands-on mapping with visual aids and guided reflection.

Materials

  • Your Personal Roadmap, - Visual Timeline Creation Activity, - Reflection Road Signs Journal, and - Progress Check Rubric

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

  • Review Your Personal Roadmap slide deck and notes.
  • Familiarize yourself with the steps in the Visual Timeline Creation Activity.
  • Print or have ready the Reflection Road Signs Journal pages.
  • Set up the Progress Check Rubric for easy reference.
  • Gather sticky notes, a timer, and writing utensils.

Step 1

Introduction & Goal Setting

3 minutes

  • Welcome the student and state the session objective clearly.
  • Display the first slides of Your Personal Roadmap.
  • Ask the student to name 1–2 planning challenges they face with a current assignment.

Step 2

Roadmap Walkthrough

5 minutes

  • Guide the student through key sections of Your Personal Roadmap.
  • Highlight how to break a task into smaller steps and set deadlines.
  • Invite the student to choose a real assignment to apply these steps.

Step 3

Visual Timeline Creation

7 minutes

  • Provide the Visual Timeline Creation Activity template.
  • Ask the student to map out each step of the chosen assignment using sticky notes.
  • Coach them on sequencing tasks and assigning target dates.

Step 4

Reflection & Prioritizing

3 minutes

  • Give the student the Reflection Road Signs Journal.
  • Prompt answers: “What was clear?” “What feels most urgent?”
  • Have the student identify and record their top two priorities.

Step 5

Progress Check & Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Review progress with the Progress Check Rubric.
  • Discuss rubric levels: completion, clarity, confidence.
  • Note one focus area for the next session.
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Slide Deck

Your Personal Roadmap

Planning & Prioritizing Made Simple

Today we’ll learn practical steps to break down tasks, build a visual timeline, and set clear priorities.

Welcome the student and introduce the session. Explain that this deck will guide them through creating a personalized roadmap for planning and prioritizing any assignment.

Why Planning Matters

• Reduces overwhelm by clarifying each step
• Boosts confidence with clear deadlines
• Keeps you on track so nothing slips through the cracks

Discuss why taking a few minutes to plan can save time and stress later. Connect benefits to the student’s own experiences.

Step 1: Break Down Your Task

  1. Identify the assignment goal
  2. List all required steps (research, outline, draft, revise)
  3. Estimate time needed for each step

Walk the student through each bullet. Use an actual assignment (e.g., a book report) as an example.

Step 2: Create Your Visual Timeline

• Use sticky notes or index cards—one per step
• Place notes in sequence from start to finish
• Assign target dates to each note

Show how to take those steps and arrange them visually. Introduce the upcoming Visual Timeline Creation Activity for hands-on practice.

Your Turn: Personalize Your Roadmap

  1. Write your assignment title here →
  2. List your steps on sticky notes →
  3. Arrange them on a timeline and add dates →

Reflection prompts:
• What feels most urgent?
• Which step is clearest in your mind?

Prompt the student to fill in their own roadmap. Ask them to identify two top priorities and reflect on clarity and urgency.

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Activity

Visual Timeline Creation

Objective: Organize your assignment into sequential steps with estimated durations and deadlines.

Materials:

  • Sticky notes or index cards
  • Marker or pen
  • Large sheet of paper or wall space

Instructions:

  1. Write each task from your chosen assignment on a separate sticky note or card.
  2. On each note, add an estimated time (in minutes or hours) you’ll need to complete that step.
  3. Arrange the notes in order from first to last on your paper or wall to create a timeline.
  4. On each note, write a target completion date or deadline.
  5. Step back and review: Are any tasks missing? Do any dates need adjusting?

Your Timeline Template (Draft here before using notes):

Step DescriptionEstimated TimeTarget Date

Fill in your tasks above, then transfer each row to its own sticky note to build your visual timeline!

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Journal

Reflection Road Signs

Use these prompts to reflect on today’s planning activity and chart your next steps.

  1. What part of the activity felt most clear and easy to understand?





  2. Which task on your timeline feels most urgent or time-sensitive? Why?





  3. What obstacles or questions came up as you created your timeline?





  4. List your top two priorities moving forward and explain why they matter.





  5. On a scale from 1–5, how confident do you feel about following this plan? What would help you move up one level?





  6. One concrete next step I will take before our next session is:





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Rubric

Progress Check Rubric

Use this rubric to review your planning progress at the end of each session. Circle the level that best describes your work for each criterion.

Criteria1 – Beginning2 – Approaching3 – Proficient4 – Exemplary
Plan ClaritySteps are vague or missingSome steps listed but order is confusingClear, logical sequence of stepsDetailed steps with deadlines and clear visual organization
Task CompletenessMost tasks are missingSeveral key tasks omitted or underdevelopedAll essential tasks identified and describedTasks plus contingencies and estimated durations clearly noted
ConfidenceStudent expresses little or no confidenceSome uncertainty; needs frequent reassuranceFeels confident about following the planHighly confident; can adjust plan independently

Scoring Guide:

  • Total your levels for a quick snapshot of progress (max score = 12).
  • Focus next session on any criterion scored at level 1 or 2.

Next Steps:

  • Target one low-scoring area and set a mini-goal to improve by one level before our next meeting.


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