Session 1 Facilitator Script

Materials Needed

• Session 1 Slide Deck
• Session 1 Task Initiation Worksheet
• Timer or stopwatch
• Whiteboard and markers

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher talks:

“Good morning, everyone! Welcome to Master Your Time, our new eight-session series where we’ll learn powerful strategies to boost your focus, get started on assignments, and manage your time like pros. Today, we’re diving into task initiation—that skill that helps us start work right away instead of putting it off.”

Show slide 1: Master Your Time: Session 1

Teacher talks:

“Let’s define task initiation. In your own words, it means the ability to begin a task promptly without procrastination or delay.”

Show slide 2: What Is Task Initiation?

Teacher asks:

“What examples can you think of where you’ve struggled just to get started? Maybe a paper you’ve put off or a project you’ve kept delaying?”

Pause for student responses.

Teacher records barriers on the whiteboard under the heading Barriers to Getting Started (e.g., feeling overwhelmed, not knowing where to start, distractions, lack of motivation).

Show slide 4: Barriers to Getting Started

Teacher says:

“These are common challenges. Recognizing them is the first step toward tackling them.”

2. Brainstorm Activity (10 minutes)

Teacher says:

“Now that we’ve named what holds us back, let’s brainstorm ways to break through that wall. Research shows that breaking big tasks into smaller steps makes starting easier.”

Show slide 5: Brainstorm Strategies

Teacher explains instructions:

“Turn to a partner. In two minutes, come up with three strategies you could use to start a challenging assignment. For example, you might set a two-minute timer, remove your phone from your desk, or choose just one tiny first step.”

Start the timer for 2 minutes.

Teacher circulates, listening in and offering prompts:
• “What’s one tiny first step you could take?”
• “How might a timer help you overcome getting stuck?”

After 2 minutes, Teacher says:

“Great—thanks. Now let’s hear one strategy from each pair. I’ll write them on the board so we can all refer back to them later.”

Capture strategies on the board.

Teacher wraps up the activity:

“Awesome ideas! Keep those in mind as we move on.”

3. Worksheet Practice (10 minutes)

Teacher says:

“Next, we’ll practice breaking a real task into micro-steps. I’m passing out the Session 1 Task Initiation Worksheet. Please take one.”

Distribute worksheets.

Teacher models on the board:

“Here’s an example: I’ve been delaying writing a research paper. My micro-steps: 1) Open a blank document (2 minutes), 2) Write my thesis sentence (5 minutes), 3) Find two sources (10 minutes). Today, I’ll commit to just opening the document for two minutes.”

Teacher instructs:

“Now it’s your turn. On your worksheet:

1. Write down one academic task you’ve been putting off.
2. Break it into at least three micro-steps.
3. Assign a time goal for that first step.
4. Decide when you’ll start it this week.”

Circulate and support:
• If a student says their task is too big, ask “What’s one tiny piece of that you can do right now?”
• If they don’t know a time goal, suggest a short window like 3 or 5 minutes.

Allow 7 minutes for work, giving a 2-minute warning before closing.

4. Reflection & Close (5 minutes)

Teacher says:

“Let’s share! Who’d like to read their first micro-step and the time goal you set?”

Invite 2–3 volunteers; celebrate each share.

Teacher summarizes:

“Remember, starting small builds momentum—once you do one tiny thing, you’re more likely to keep going. This week, use your timer and worksheet to kick off that task at home.”

Show slide 7: Reflection & Homework

Teacher assigns homework:

“Use your plan to initiate that first micro-step at home. Jot down when you did it and how it felt. We’ll talk about sustaining effort next session in Master Your Time.”

Teacher closes:

“Great job today! I’m excited to see how you put this into action.”

End of Session 1 Script.

Session 1 Task Initiation Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________

1. Identify one academic task you’ve been putting off.

1. Break this task into at least three micro-steps. For each step, write a brief description and assign a realistic time goal.

Micro-step 1: ________________________________________ (Time goal: ______ minutes)

Micro-step 2: ________________________________________ (Time goal: ______ minutes)

Micro-step 3: ________________________________________ (Time goal: ______ minutes)

(Optional) Micro-step 4: _______________________________ (Time goal: ______ minutes)

1. Which micro-step will you start first? When will you do it? (e.g., Tuesday at 4:00 pm)

1. Choose one strategy or tool to help you initiate that first step.
   (Examples: set a timer, move distractions away, play focus music, tell a friend to check in.)

1. Homework Reflection (to complete at home):
   After you’ve tried your first micro-step, jot down a few notes about how it felt and what helped.

Session 1 Brainstorm Activity

Objective: Generate a variety of simple strategies students can use to begin challenging tasks by leveraging peer brainstorming and whole‐class sharing.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials Needed:

• Session 1 Slide Deck (slide 5: Brainstorm Strategies)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Timer or stopwatch

Instructions:

1. Set Up (1 minute)
   • Show slide 5: Brainstorm Strategies.
   • Explain: “We’re going to think of quick, easy ways to get started on work you’ve been putting off.”
2. Partner Brainstorm (4 minutes)
   • Ask students to pair up.
   • Prompt: “In your pair, list three different strategies you could use right now to launch a tough assignment. Be as creative or simple as you like!”
   • Start a 3-minute timer; after 2 minutes, remind pairs with: “One more minute—keep those ideas coming!”
3. Teacher Circulation (ongoing during brainstorm)
   • Listen in on pairs; if a team is stuck, ask guiding questions:
     • “What’s the smallest first step you could take?”
     • “How might a two-minute timer help you start?”
     • “What could you remove from your workspace to focus?”
4. Share Out & Record (5 minutes)
   • Ask each pair to share one strategy.
   • Write each on the whiteboard under the heading Task Initiation Strategies.
   • If time allows, invite more pairs to share until you have 6–8 strategies listed.
5. Wrap-Up (brief)
   • Highlight how different strategies might work for different people.
   • Say: “Keep this list handy as you move into the worksheet practice and at home when you tackle your own tasks.”

Student Roles:

• Actively contribute at least one idea.
• Listen and build on your partner’s suggestions.
• Share one strategy with the class.

Teacher Tips:

• Encourage quieter students by calling on pairs that haven’t spoken yet.
• Validate all ideas: even simple ones (e.g., “Just open the document”) can be powerful.
• Connect strategies back to barriers listed earlier on the whiteboard: show how each idea addresses a specific barrier.