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First Step Forward

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Lesson Plan

Small Group Task Launchpad Plan

Students will identify personal task initiation blockers and develop tailored strategies to overcome them.

Task initiation is a critical executive function skill. This lesson empowers students to take control of their learning by addressing common barriers to getting started on tasks, improving academic performance and self-management.

Audience

6-8th Grade Small Group Leaders

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided self-reflection.

Materials

Small Group Task Launchpad Plan (lesson-plan), Overcoming Start-Up Struggles (slide-deck), Guided Conversation Starters (script), My Personal Launch Sequence Journal (journal), Task Initiation Troubleshooter Worksheet (worksheet), What Stops You? (warm-up), and My First Step Forward Commitment (cool-down)

Prep

Preparation Steps

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction: What Stops You?

5 minutes

Step 2

Identify Personal Blockers

15 minutes

Step 3

Brainstorm and Share Strategies

15 minutes

Step 4

Develop Personal Launch Sequence & Wrap-Up

10 minutes

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Slide Deck

Overcoming Start-Up Struggles: Your Path to Task Initiation

Ready to get things done?

Welcome students to the session. Introduce the engaging title and explain that today they'll learn how to tackle the challenge of starting tasks.

What is Task Initiation?

It's the ability to start a task!

  • Moving from thinking about doing something to actually doing it.
  • The first step is often the hardest, but it's the most important!

Define 'task initiation' in simple terms. Emphasize that it's a skill, and like any skill, it can be improved. Ask students for examples of tasks they sometimes struggle to start.

Why is it Hard to Start?

Common 'Blockers':

  • "Too Big!" (Feeling overwhelmed by the whole task)
  • "Don't Know Where to Start" (Unsure of the first action)
  • "Distractions!" (Anything pulling your attention away)
  • "Fear of Failure" (Worrying about not doing well)
  • "Lack of Motivation" (Just don't feel like it)

Discuss common reasons why people (and students) find it hard to start tasks. Encourage brief sharing or nods of agreement. Refer to the Task Initiation Troubleshooter Worksheet here as well.

Identifying Your Personal Blockers

What stops YOU?

  • Think about tasks you've put off.
  • Which of these blockers sound familiar?
  • Are there other reasons unique to you?

Transition to personal reflection. Explain that recognizing their specific blockers is the first step to overcoming them. Direct students to work on the Task Initiation Troubleshooter Worksheet during this part.

Strategy 1: Break It Down!

Make Big Tasks Smaller

  • An elephant is eaten one bite at a time!
  • Break a large task into smaller, manageable steps.
  • Each small step feels less intimidating.

Introduce the first strategy: breaking down overwhelming tasks. Give a simple example (e.g., cleaning a room into 'pick up clothes,' 'make bed,' 'vacuum').

Strategy 2: Just One First Step

What's the EASIEST thing you can do?

  • Don't think about the whole task, just the very first, tiniest action.
  • Example: Instead of "write essay," think "open blank document."
  • Once you start, momentum builds!

Explain that the 'first step' doesn't have to be perfect, just a step. It should be easy enough to start immediately. Provide examples (e.g., 'open the book' instead of 'study for the test').

Strategy 3: Clear Your Launchpad

Minimize Distractions

  • Find a quiet space.
  • Turn off notifications.
  • Put away things that grab your attention.
  • A clear space helps a clear mind!

Discuss environmental factors. Ask students what distracts them and how they could minimize it. Emphasize creating a 'launchpad' environment.

Strategy 4: Reward Your Progress

Give Yourself a Boost!

  • Plan a small reward for starting or completing a tough first step.
  • This can be a short break, a favorite song, or a snack.
  • Positive reinforcement makes starting easier next time.

Talk about intrinsic vs. extrinsic rewards. Encourage students to think of small, immediate rewards for completing those initial tough steps.

Building Your Personal Launch Sequence

Combining Strategies

  • What steps work best for you?
  • Create a personalized plan for tackling tasks.
  • Think of it as your secret code to getting started!

Explain that everyone's 'launch sequence' will look a little different. This is where the My Personal Launch Sequence Journal comes in. Guide them through applying strategies to their own blockers.

Ready for Your First Step Forward?

Commit to trying one new strategy this week!

  • Practice makes progress.
  • Every small step counts!
  • You've got this!

End with encouragement and a call to action. Prompt them to reflect on one specific thing they will try. This leads into the cool-down activity.

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Script

Guided Conversation Starters

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something that nearly everyone struggles with from time to time: starting tasks. Have you ever had a homework assignment, a chore, or even something fun you wanted to do, but just couldn't seem to get yourself to begin? What was that like?"




Teacher: "We call that 'task initiation,' and it's a super important skill for school and life. Our goal today is to figure out what makes it hard for you to start, and then come up with some awesome ways to get that 'first step forward.' Ready?"

Identifying Personal Blockers (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's look at our Overcoming Start-Up Struggles slides. We talked about some common reasons why it's tough to start: tasks feeling too big, not knowing where to begin, distractions, or even worrying about making mistakes. Now, I want you to grab your Task Initiation Troubleshooter Worksheet."

Teacher: "Think about a specific task you found hard to start recently. Maybe it was a project, studying for a test, or even cleaning your room. On your worksheet, jot down what you think was stopping you. Was it one of the blockers we mentioned, or something else? Take a few minutes to really think about it and write it down."







Teacher: "Who feels comfortable sharing one blocker they identified? No pressure, but sometimes just saying it out loud can help. What stops you from hitting that 'start' button?"







Teacher: "That's a really common one. How did that blocker feel when you were experiencing it?"




Brainstorming & Sharing Strategies (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Great job identifying those challenges. Now for the good news: there are tons of strategies to help! We saw some on the slides: breaking tasks down, taking just one tiny first step, clearing distractions, and even rewarding ourselves. On your worksheet, under the blocker you identified, brainstorm one or two strategies that you think might help you overcome it. Don't worry if it sounds silly; sometimes the silliest ideas work best!"







Teacher: "Alright, who has a strategy they'd like to share? What's one thing you're thinking of trying to get past your blocker?"







Teacher: "That's a fantastic idea! Why do you think that strategy might work for you?"




Teacher: "Has anyone tried something similar that worked (or didn't work)? What did you learn?"







Personal Launch Sequence & Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now that we've thought about our blockers and some strategies, it's time to build your own 'Personal Launch Sequence.' This is like your own custom plan for getting started. We'll use our My Personal Launch Sequence Journal for this."

Teacher: "Look at the blocker you wrote down earlier on your worksheet. What is the very first, easiest step you can take to start overcoming that? And what will you do right after that? Think about the strategies we discussed. Write down 2-3 steps for your own launch sequence in your journal."












Teacher: "To wrap up, I want everyone to think about one specific action from their launch sequence that they will commit to trying this week. It could be as simple as 'open my math book at 4 PM.' Share that one actionable step with the group. Let's hear your first step forward!"




Teacher: "Fantastic! Remember, practice makes progress. Every time you take that first step, you're building a stronger skill. You've got this!"

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Journal

My Personal Launch Sequence Journal

Name: ____________________________

What task do I often struggle to start?

Think about a specific school task (like homework, a project, or studying) or even a home chore that you sometimes have a hard time getting started on.





What is my main "blocker" for this task?

Why is it hard for you to start this particular task? Is it too big? Are you unsure where to begin, are there distractions, or something else?










My Personal Launch Sequence!

Now, let's create your custom plan to get started. What are 2-3 small, easy steps you can take to overcome your blocker and launch into action? Write them down in order.

Step 1: My Very First Step (Make it SUPER easy!)












Step 2: My Next Action












Step 3: Keeping the Momentum Going












How will I use my Launch Sequence?

When will you try to use this? What will remind you to use it? How do you think it will help you?











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Worksheet

Task Initiation Troubleshooter Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Part 1: What task is causing trouble?

Think about one specific task (schoolwork, chore, personal goal) that you often find hard to start. Describe it here.





Part 2: What are your blockers?

Read through the common blockers below. Check all that apply to the task you described above. Then, explain in your own words why these stop you.

Common Blockers:

  • Too Big! (The task feels overwhelming or enormous)

    • Why this stops me:



  • Don't Know Where to Start (I'm not sure what the very first step should be)

    • Why this stops me:



  • Distractions! (My phone, friends, other thoughts pull me away)

    • Why this stops me:



  • Fear of Failure (I worry I won't do well, so I don't even try)

    • Why this stops me:



  • Lack of Motivation (I just don't feel like doing it)

    • Why this stops me:



  • Other Blocker(s): (Write any other reasons here)

    • Why this stops me:






Part 3: Brainstorm Solutions!

For each blocker you checked or wrote above, brainstorm one or two strategies that might help you get started. Look back at our discussion and the Overcoming Start-Up Struggles slides for ideas!

Blocker 1: ________________________________

  • Strategy 1:



  • Strategy 2:



Blocker 2: ________________________________

  • Strategy 1:



  • Strategy 2:



Blocker 3: ________________________________

  • Strategy 1:



  • Strategy 2:



Remember, the goal is to find strategies that work for YOU!

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Warm Up

What Stops You?

Think about a time you had something important to do, but you just couldn't bring yourself to start it. It could be homework, a chore, or even getting ready for something fun.

In a few words, what was the very first thing that made it hard to begin? Or, what was going through your mind right before you finally got started (or didn't)?







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Cool Down

My First Step Forward Commitment

Look at the "My Personal Launch Sequence" you created in your My Personal Launch Sequence Journal.

What is one specific, small action from your launch sequence that you will try to take this week to get started on a task?

Write it down here and be ready to share it with the group!

I commit to starting a task this week by:







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