Task Start Superstars Script

Introduction: What's the Hold Up? (1 minute)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, Super Star Learners! Today we're going to talk about something that can sometimes feel a little tricky: starting our work."

Teacher: "Have you ever sat down to do something, maybe a worksheet, a writing assignment, or even just cleaning your room, and you just... stared at it? Like your brain was saying, 'Hmmm, where do I even begin?' Show me a thumbs up if that's ever happened to you!"

(Pause for student responses)

Teacher: "It happens to all of us! But today, we're going to learn some awesome strategies to become 'Task Start Superstars' – people who can get started on their tasks quickly and confidently."

Strategies for Starting Strong (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Being a Task Start Superstar isn't magic; it's about having a few simple tricks up your sleeve. Let's look at three powerful strategies to help us kick off any task."

Strategy 1: Read the Directions!

Teacher: "Our first strategy is super important: Read the Directions! Sounds simple, right? But sometimes when we're eager to start, we just dive in. Taking a moment to read all the directions carefully can save you so much time and make sure you're doing the right thing."

Teacher: "Think: What is the task asking me to do? Are there any special instructions?"

Strategy 2: Break It Down!

Teacher: "Our second strategy is: Break It Down! If a task looks really big, it can feel overwhelming. Imagine you have to eat a giant pizza – you wouldn't try to eat it all at once! You break it into slices. It's the same with tasks. Find the first small step you can take."

Teacher: "Think: What's just one tiny part I can start with? What's the very first step?"

Strategy 3: Gather Your Tools!

Teacher: "And our third strategy is: Gather Your Tools! Have you ever tried to draw a picture but couldn't find your crayons? Or tried to write without a pencil? It's frustrating! Before you start, quickly check: do I have everything I need? Pencil, paper, book, ruler, etc."

Teacher: "Think: Do I have all my materials ready? Is my space organized?"

Teacher: "So, our three superstar strategies are: Read the Directions, Break It Down, and Gather Your Tools."

Guided Practice: Let's Try It! (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, let's practice these strategies together. Imagine your teacher just handed out a new math worksheet with 10 problems. It looks like a lot! How would a 'Task Start Superstar' begin?"

Teacher: "Who wants to share how they would use our first strategy, Read the Directions, for this math worksheet?"

(Call on a student or two for responses. Guide them to think about reading the title, understanding what kind of problems they are, if they need to show their work, etc.)

Teacher: "Great ideas! Now, how could we Break It Down? What's a small first step for that math worksheet?"

(Call on a student or two. Guide them to suggest starting with problem #1, doing the easiest problems first, or just writing their name.)

Teacher: "Excellent! And finally, what about Gather Your Tools? What would you need to have ready for this math worksheet?"

(Call on a student or two. Guide them to mention a pencil, eraser, perhaps scratch paper, or even their math textbook for reference.)

Independent Application & Reflection (2 minutes)

Teacher: "You've got this! Now it's your turn to be a real Task Start Superstar. I'm going to give you your Task Start Checklist Worksheet, and I want you to think about the next task you'll be working on independently. It could be today's writing assignment, a reading activity, or even your homework tonight."

Teacher: "Use the checklist to plan how you will start that task. Remember our strategies! I'll be walking around to see how you're becoming a superstar starter!"

(Distribute Task Start Checklist Worksheet. Circulate and provide individual prompts as needed, linking back to the rubric expectations. Briefly remind students that you'll be looking for them to use these strategies, just like on the Task Initiation Rubric.)

Wrap-Up: Super Starter Pledge (1 minute)

Teacher: "Alright, Super Starters! Time is almost up for this lesson, but our learning doesn't stop here. Initiating tasks is a skill we can practice every single day."

Teacher: "For the rest of today, and this week, I want each of you to try and use at least one of our 'Task Start Superstar' strategies whenever you begin a new assignment. Who's ready to take the 'Super Starter Pledge' to try their best?"

*(Wait for student affirmation, maybe a show of hands or a verbal

Task Start Checklist: Become a Super Starter!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

My Task Today Is: _________________________________________________________________

(Choose an assignment you need to start soon, like a math page, a reading activity, or a writing prompt.)

Strategy 1: Read the Directions!

What are you being asked to do? Write down one or two important things you learned by reading the directions for your task.

Strategy 2: Break It Down!

If your task feels big, what is the very first small step you can take? Write it down!

Strategy 3: Gather Your Tools!

What materials do you need to have ready before you start your task? List them here!

Super Starter Reflection: Now that you've used these strategies, how do you feel about starting your task? (Circle one)

• Ready to Go!
• Still a Little Tricky
• Not Sure Yet

Task Initiation Rubric: Starting Strong!

Student Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

This rubric assesses how well you use strategies to start tasks independently.