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The Momentum Builder

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Lesson Plan

Personal Momentum Coaching Plan

Students will be able to identify personal triggers for task avoidance and develop individualized strategies to initiate and sustain momentum on academic tasks.

Developing strong task initiation skills is crucial for academic success and building independence. This lesson helps students understand their unique challenges and equip them with personalized tools to overcome procrastination and achieve their goals.

Audience

9th Grade Student

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Identify triggers, brainstorm strategies, create a personal action plan.

Materials

Your Personal Launchpad (slide-deck), My Task Initiation Reflection Log (journal), and Trigger Identification & Strategy Map (worksheet)

Prep

Review Materials and Prepare for Individual Coaching

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Stopping You?

5 minutes

  • Begin by presenting the first slide of the Your Personal Launchpad slide deck, introducing the lesson's purpose.
    - Engage the student in a brief discussion: "We all sometimes find it hard to start things. What usually makes it tough for you to get going on a task?"
    - Encourage open sharing, emphasizing that this is a common challenge.

Step 2

Identify Your Triggers

8 minutes

  • Transition to the 'Identify Your Triggers' section of the Your Personal Launchpad slide deck.
    - Introduce the Trigger Identification & Strategy Map worksheet.
    - Guide the student through the worksheet, helping them to identify specific internal and external triggers for task avoidance.
    - Provide examples and prompt them to think about recent experiences. E.g., "Do you find yourself getting distracted by your phone, or do you feel overwhelmed by big tasks?"

Step 3

Build Your Strategy Map

7 minutes

  • Using the Trigger Identification & Strategy Map worksheet, work with the student to brainstorm and record personalized strategies for each identified trigger.
    - Refer to the 'Building Your Strategy' section of the Your Personal Launchpad slide deck for inspiration and examples.
    - Focus on actionable steps the student can take immediately. E.g., "If your phone is a distraction, what's a small step you can take to make it less accessible?"

Step 4

Cool-Down: My Personal Launchpad

5 minutes

  • Conclude by directing the student to the My Task Initiation Reflection Log journal.
    - Ask them to reflect on one key takeaway from today's session and one specific strategy they commit to trying before the next session.
    - Use the final slide of the Your Personal Launchpad slide deck to reinforce the idea of a 'personal launchpad' and ongoing momentum building.
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Slide Deck

The Momentum Builder: Your Personal Launchpad

Ready to launch your tasks with ease?

We all face moments when starting a task feels like climbing a mountain. Today, we'll build your personal launchpad to blast off into action!

Welcome the student and explain the purpose of the session: to help them understand and overcome challenges with starting tasks. Emphasize it's a supportive, personalized session.

What's Stopping You?

Think about a time you had trouble starting a task.

  • What made it difficult?
  • What thoughts or feelings came up?
  • What was happening around you?

Engage the student with an open-ended question. Encourage them to think about their own experiences. This is the 'Warm-Up: What's Stopping You?' stage.

Identify Your Triggers

What sets off task avoidance?

  • Internal Triggers: Feelings (overwhelm, boredom, fear), thoughts ("I can't do this," "It's too hard").
  • External Triggers: Distractions (phone, noise), environment (messy desk), task characteristics (unclear instructions).

Introduce the concept of 'triggers' and explain that identifying them is the first step. Guide the student to the Trigger Identification & Strategy Map worksheet.

Building Your Strategy

Your personalized toolkit for task initiation!

  • Break it Down: Big task into small steps.
  • Time Block: Schedule specific work times.
  • Remove Distractions: Turn off notifications, find a quiet space.
  • Reward Yourself: A small treat after starting.
  • Visualize Success: Imagine completing the first step.

Explain that once triggers are known, strategies can be developed. Connect this to the strategy section of the Trigger Identification & Strategy Map worksheet. Provide examples and encourage brainstorming.

Your Personal Launchpad: Ready for Lift-Off!

You've built your unique plan!

  • You understand your triggers.
  • You have personalized strategies.
  • Keep practicing, reflecting, and launching into action!

What's one thing you'll try today?

Conclude the session by reinforcing the idea of a personal launchpad. Direct the student to the My Task Initiation Reflection Log for their cool-down reflection. Emphasize ongoing practice.

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Journal

My Task Initiation Reflection Log

This journal is your space to reflect on your journey with starting tasks. Use it to track your progress, celebrate small wins, and adjust your strategies.

Reflection #1: What I Learned Today

After our session on "The Momentum Builder," what was one new insight you gained about your personal task initiation challenges?










What is one specific strategy you are committed to trying before our next session? How will you try it?










Reflection #2: My Recent Experience

Describe a recent time you successfully initiated a task that you might have put off before. What strategy did you use? How did it feel?










Describe a recent time you struggled to initiate a task. What triggers were present? What could you have tried differently?










Reflection #3: Adjusting My Approach

Looking at your Trigger Identification & Strategy Map, what strategies are working best for you? Are there any that you need to adjust or replace?










What new strategy might you want to explore or add to your toolkit?










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Worksheet

Trigger Identification & Strategy Map

Name: ____________________________ Date: __________________

This worksheet will help you pinpoint what makes starting tasks tough and brainstorm ways to overcome those hurdles. For each task you find challenging, let's identify the 'triggers' and then create 'strategies' to build your momentum!

Part 1: Identifying Your Triggers

Think about tasks you often delay or find hard to start. What usually happens just before you decide to put it off, or what feelings come up?

Challenging TaskInternal Triggers (Thoughts, Feelings, Beliefs)External Triggers (Environment, Distractions, Task Traits)
Example: Starting a big essayFeeling overwhelmed, thinking "I don't know where to start"Phone notifications, messy desk, unclear assignment prompt
1.

















2.

















3.

















Now that you've identified your triggers, let's brainstorm personalized strategies to help you launch into action for each task. Refer to the Your Personal Launchpad slide deck for inspiration!

Challenging TaskIdentified Triggers (from above)Personalized Strategies (What will you do?)
Example: Starting a big essayOverwhelm, "don't know where to start", phone, messy deskBreak into 15-min chunks, start with outline, put phone in another room, clear desk before starting
1.

















2.

















3.

















What is one simple strategy you can use for any task when you feel stuck? (e.g.,

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