Lesson Plan
Routine Creation Guide
Guide a 9th-grade student to articulate short- and long-term goals and build daily and weekly routines to support progress through personalized coaching prompts and tracking tools.
Developing clear goals and routines helps students strengthen executive function, increasing self-efficacy and paving the way for academic and life-skill success by fostering ownership of tasks.
Audience
9th Grade Student
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Personalized coaching with visual aids and actionable trackers.
Materials
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Ensure digital access to Next-Move Mini Slides for on-screen presentation
- Print or ready a digital copy of Weekly Action Tracker for routine planning
- Review prompts in One-on-One Coaching Script to guide discussion
- Familiarize yourself with success criteria in Progress Check Rubric
Step 1
Session Introduction
3 minutes
- Greet the student and set a positive tone
- Use opening prompts from One-on-One Coaching Script to ask about their current goals and challenges
- Share session objective: mapping goals and routines
Step 2
Short-Term Goal Mapping
5 minutes
- Display the first slides in Next-Move Mini Slides to define short-term goals
- Ask the student to identify one academic or personal goal for the next 1–4 weeks
- Prompt them to break that goal into 2–3 actionable steps using guiding questions from the coaching script
Step 3
Long-Term Goal Mapping
5 minutes
- Advance to slides defining long-term goals (1+ year) in Next-Move Mini Slides
- Encourage the student to select a future aspiration (e.g., career, college, skill development)
- Help them outline major milestones toward that goal using script prompts
Step 4
Routine Creation
5 minutes
- Introduce Weekly Action Tracker and explain daily vs. weekly habit slots
- Together, choose 2–3 daily routines and 1–2 weekly routines aligned to their mapped goals
- Fill in the tracker with specific times and reminders to build consistency
Step 5
Next Steps & Reflection
2 minutes
- Review filled tracker and discuss potential barriers using prompts from the coaching script
- Use Progress Check Rubric to set one measurable check-in date
- Summarize commitments and encourage the student to take ownership of their new routine
Slide Deck
What’s Your Next Move?
Today we’ll:
- Define a short-term goal
- Identify a long-term aspiration
- Build daily & weekly routines to help you succeed
Welcome the student and introduce the session. Explain that today you’ll map both short- and long-term goals and build routines to support them.
Short-Term Goal (1–4 Weeks)
Prompt: What is one goal you want to accomplish in the next month?
Write your goal here: __________________________
Guide the student to think of a goal they can achieve in the next 1–4 weeks. Use coaching prompts to explore why it matters.
Action Steps for Your Short-Term Goal
List 2–3 steps you will take this week:
Help the student break the short-term goal into 2–3 actionable steps. Encourage concrete, time-bound actions.
Long-Term Aspiration (1+ Year)
Prompt: What is a future aspiration that excites you?
Examples: college major, career path, skill mastery
Write your aspiration: __________________________
Introduce the concept of a long-term goal (one year or more). Encourage the student to envision their future aspirations.
Milestones Toward Your Aspiration
Break your long-term goal into 3 key milestones:
- Milestone 1: __________________________
- Milestone 2: __________________________
- Milestone 3: __________________________
Help the student identify major milestones toward the long-term aspiration. Use this to create a roadmap.
Planning Daily & Weekly Routines
Choose 2–3 daily habits and 1–2 weekly routines:
Daily Habit 1: _______ at _______ (time/place)
Daily Habit 2: _______ at _______ (time/place)
Weekly Routine 1: _______ on _______ (day)
Weekly Routine 2: _______ on _______ (day)
Explain daily vs. weekly routines. Guide the student to choose habits aligned with their goals.
Next Steps & Reflection
Reflect:
- What might get in the way of your routines?
- How will you remind yourself each day?
Set a check-in date: ____________
Your first step tomorrow: __________________
Wrap up by reflecting on potential barriers and setting an initial check-in. Encourage ownership and consistency.
Worksheet
Weekly Action Tracker
Daily Habits
| Habit | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habit 1: _______ | |||||||
| Habit 2: _______ | |||||||
| Habit 3: _______ |
Weekly Routines
- Routine 1: __________________ on _______________
- Routine 2: __________________ on _______________
Weekly Reflection
- What went well this week?
- What challenges did I face?
- How can I adjust my routines next week?
Script
One-on-One Coaching Script
1. Session Introduction (3 minutes)
Teacher: “Hi there! I’m so glad we could spend this time together. How have you been feeling about your classes and activities lately?”
(pause for response)
Teacher: “Great—thank you for sharing. Today, we’ll map out both a short-term goal and a long-term aspiration, then build routines to help you make real progress. Sound good?”
Teacher: “Before we jump in, tell me: What’s one thing you’ve been hoping to accomplish soon, either in school or outside?”
(pause; if needed, prompt: “Is there a class you’d like to improve in, or a habit you’d like to start?”)
2. Short-Term Goal Mapping (5 minutes)
Teacher: “Let’s look at the first slide in Next-Move Mini Slides. It asks: What is one goal you want to accomplish in the next month?”
Teacher: “Take a moment to think of a goal you could reach in the next 1–4 weeks. It could be academic—like raising a grade—or personal—like reading a book series. Write it down when you have it.”
(pause for student to write)
Teacher: “Awesome. Why did you choose that goal? What makes it important to you?”
(pause; if needed, prompt: “How will you feel once you reach it?”)
Teacher: “Now let’s break that goal into smaller steps. On slide 3, it asks for 2–3 action steps you can take this week. For example, if your goal is to improve in math, you might: 1) review notes for 15 minutes each day, 2) ask a friend or teacher one question after class, and 3) complete one extra practice problem.”
Teacher: “What first step will you take? And what could you add as steps 2 and 3?”
(pause; after they share, affirm: “Those are clear steps. You can do this!”)
3. Long-Term Goal Mapping (5 minutes)
Teacher: “Next, open slide 4 in Next-Move Mini Slides. It asks: What is a future aspiration that excites you? Think of something one year or more away—like a college major, a career path, or a skill you’d love to master.”
Teacher: “What long-term aspiration comes to mind for you?”
(pause; if needed, prompt: “Is there a job or field you’re curious about? Or a skill you’d enjoy building over time?”)
Teacher: “Fantastic. Now on slide 5, we’ll turn that aspiration into a roadmap by listing three milestones. For instance, if your goal is to become a graphic designer, you might: Milestone 1—take an online design course; Milestone 2—complete a small personal project; Milestone 3—build a portfolio website.”
Teacher: “What are three key milestones you could work toward for your aspiration?”
(pause; encourage specificity: “What can you do this semester or next year?”)
4. Routine Creation (5 minutes)
Teacher: “Great progress! Now let’s look at your Weekly Action Tracker. We’ll choose 2–3 daily habits and 1–2 weekly routines that align with your short- and long-term goals.”
Teacher: “First, what daily habit could you practice that supports your short-term goal? For example, ‘Review class notes after school at 4 PM.’”
(pause; after response, write it under Habit 1.)
Teacher: “What else could fit—another subject or personal habit?”
(pause; add Habit 2.)
Teacher: “If you want a third daily habit, what would that be?”
(pause; add Habit 3 or skip if two is enough.)
Teacher: “Next, let’s pick weekly routines—things you’ll do once a week. Maybe ‘Meet with a study group on Thursday’ or ‘Reflect on progress on Sunday evening.’ What routines feel doable?”
(pause; write Routine 1 on the correct day, then Routine 2 if desired.)
Teacher: “Perfect. You now have a clear tracker filled in. These routines will guide you each day and week.”
5. Next Steps & Reflection (2 minutes)
Teacher: “Before we wrap up, let’s think about any roadblocks. What might get in the way of your routines?”
(pause; if none mentioned, prompt: “What if you’re tired or have another commitment?”)
Teacher: “How will you remind yourself each day? A phone alarm? A note on your desk?”
(pause; discuss reminder strategies.)
Teacher: “Finally, let’s set a check-in date using our Progress Check Rubric. How about two weeks from today?”
(pause; confirm date.)
Teacher: “I’m proud of the plan you’ve built today. Your first step is: ______________________ tomorrow. You’ve got this—let me know how it goes at our check-in!”
End of Session
Rubric
Progress Check Rubric
Use this rubric at your one-on-one check-in to assess how well the student is following their routines, making progress toward goals, and reflecting on their work.
| Criteria | 1 – Beginning | 2 – Developing | 3 – Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine Adherence | Follows less than 50% of planned routines. | Follows 50–79% of planned routines. | Follows 80–100% of planned routines consistently. |
| Goal Progress | Minimal or no progress toward goals. | Some progress made but milestones are incomplete. | Achieves milestones on time or makes on-target progress. |
| Reflection Quality | Reflections are incomplete or superficial. | Reflections show some insight but lack details. | Reflections are thorough, specific, and include actionable next steps. |
How to Use
- During the check-in, score each criterion from 1 to 3 based on the student’s journal entries and tracker data.
- Add up the three scores for a total (3–9) to gauge overall progress.
- Provide targeted feedback and adjust routines or goals as needed for the next period.