Quick Start Roadmap
Students will practice rapid task initiation by selecting and sequencing three mini-tasks in one minute, fostering automatic start routines.
Quick initiation builds confidence and reduces procrastination in third graders. This high-energy warm-up develops executive function by embedding automatic task-start habits.
Fast-paced choice and sequence tasks
Spark the Start Slides, #spark-the-start-slides, Launch Prompt Script, #launch-prompt-script, Ready, Set, Go Activity, and #ready-set-go-activity
Prep
Teacher Preparation
2 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
1 minute
- Display the first slide of Spark the Start Slides
- Explain: “Today we’re racing to choose and order small tasks—let’s kickstart our brains!”
- Highlight the goal: quickly pick three mini-tasks in under one minute
Step 2
Activity Demonstration
1 minute
- Use the Launch Prompt Script to model thinking aloud:
- “First, I see ‘Draw a star,’ ‘Solve a riddle,’ and ‘Name three colors.’ I’ll pick ‘Draw a star,’ then ‘Name three colors,’ then ‘Solve a riddle.’ Ready, set, go!”
- Show how to write or tap each choice on Ready, Set, Go Activity
Step 3
Student Practice
2 minutes
- Distribute the Ready, Set, Go Activity to each student
- Prompt: “Your turn! Choose and sequence three tasks in one minute—go!”
- Circulate to encourage quick starts and provide gentle reminders
- Ask a few volunteers to share their task order
- Reinforce: “Great job kicking off tasks fast—this practice helps us dive right into work every day!”
- Transition: “Now that our brains are warmed up, let’s jump into our lesson.”
