Senior Success Guide

İrem Ege TUĞCU

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Senior Success Guide Lesson Plan

Students will identify academic, social, and career expectations for 12th grade and create SMART goals to guide a successful senior year.

This lesson equips seniors with clarity on what’s expected in their final high school year, boosting confidence and focus as they prepare for post-secondary life.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions and goal-setting activities.

Materials

Senior Success Guide Slide Deck, and Senior Goal Setting Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Review the Senior Success Guide Slide Deck
Print one copy of the Senior Goal Setting Worksheet per student
Arrange classroom seating for pair and whole-group discussion

Step 1

Introduction and Objectives

5 minutes

Welcome students and outline session purpose
Display agenda and learning objectives from the slide deck
Explain the importance of understanding senior-year expectations

Step 2

Group Discussion: Senior Year Expectations

8 minutes

Put students into pairs and assign each pair one category: academic, social, or career
Ask pairs to brainstorm key expectations in their category
Reconvene as a class and record highlights on the board or slide

Step 3

Goal Setting Activity

10 minutes

Distribute the Senior Goal Setting Worksheet
Instruct students to write one SMART goal for academics, one for social, and one for career prep
Circulate to support and prompt specificity and measurability

Step 4

Reflection and Next Steps

7 minutes

Invite volunteers to share one of their goals with the class
Discuss strategies and resources to achieve these goals
Conclude by summarizing key takeaway points from the slide deck

0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Senior Success Guide

What to Expect in 12th Grade
An interactive lesson to explore academic, social, and career expectations for your senior year.

Welcome students. Introduce yourself and explain that today’s session will help them understand what’s expected in 12th grade and guide them in setting clear goals. Click to advance when ready.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will:
• Identify academic expectations for 12th grade
• Recognize social expectations during your senior year
• Explore career preparation tasks and opportunities
• Create SMART goals to guide a successful senior year

Read the objectives aloud and briefly explain each. Emphasize how today’s activities connect to their future success.

Senior Year Expectations

We’ll focus on three areas:

• Academic: Coursework, grades, college applications
• Social: Friendships, extracurriculars, balance
• Career: Internships, resumes, next steps

Introduce the three categories: academic, social, and career. Ask students to think fast about what comes to mind for each before diving into discussion.

Group Discussion Instructions

Form pairs and pick one category: Academic, Social, or Career
Brainstorm key expectations and write them down
Prepare to share your top 3 ideas with the class

Divide students into pairs and assign each pair one category. Give them 5 minutes to brainstorm key expectations. Then bring everyone back to share highlights.

Setting SMART Goals

A SMART goal is:
• Specific: Clear and detailed
• Measurable: Trackable progress
• Achievable: Realistic and attainable
• Relevant: Aligned with your priorities
• Time-bound: Has a deadline

Explain the SMART framework step by step, giving a brief example of each element. Answer any questions before moving on.

Your SMART Goal Activity

Use the Senior Goal Setting Worksheet to:
• Write one SMART goal for Academics
• Write one SMART goal for Social life
• Write one SMART goal for Career preparation

Distribute the Senior Goal Setting Worksheet now. Remind students to write one goal per category and follow the SMART criteria. Circulate to support.

Examples of SMART Goals

Academic: “Raise my GPA from 3.2 to 3.5 by the end of semester 1 by studying an extra hour daily.”

Social: “Join the debate club and attend at least 8 meetings by November to build public speaking skills.”

Career: “Complete a 2-week internship at a local business before graduation and update my resume by May 1.”

Show these examples to illustrate how to write a SMART goal. Highlight each element. Encourage students to model their goals similarly.

Reflection & Next Steps

• Who would like to share one SMART goal?
• What resources or strategies will help you achieve it?
• Keep your goal sheet somewhere you’ll see it daily

Let’s finish strong – senior year starts now!

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their goals. Offer feedback on making them more SMART. Summarize key points and encourage students to keep their goals visible.

Worksheet

Senior Goal Setting Worksheet

Refer to the examples on the Senior Success Guide Slide Deck for guidance. Use the SMART framework to write clear, actionable goals in each category.

1. Academic Goal (SMART)

Write one SMART goal focused on your academic success this year:

Break down your goal using the SMART criteria:

• Specific: Describe exactly what you want to accomplish.

• Measurable: How will you track progress and know when you’ve succeeded?

• Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you?

• Relevant: How does this goal connect to your priorities or future plans?

• Time-bound: What is your deadline?

2. Social Goal (SMART)

Write one SMART goal to enhance your social life, involvement, or well-being:

Break down your goal:

• Specific:

• Measurable:

• Achievable:

• Relevant:

• Time-bound:

3. Career Goal (SMART)

Write one SMART goal to advance your career preparation or post-graduation plans: