Worksheet
What’s Your Winning Strategy? Worksheet
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________________
This worksheet is designed for you to complete on your own. Reflect on your strengths, set a clear goal, and plan your next steps.
Part 1: Identify Your Personal Strengths
-
Strength #1: ___________________________
e.g., Resilience – bouncing back after challenges. -
Strength #2: ___________________________
e.g., Time management – organizing my schedule effectively. -
Strength #3: ___________________________
e.g., Communication – sharing ideas clearly with others.
Part 2: Strengths in Action
Think of a time when one of your strengths helped you overcome a challenge.
Challenge I faced: ___________________________
e.g., Feeling overwhelmed by homework when I joined a new club.
How my strength helped me: ___________________________
e.g., Using time management, I created a study and practice schedule.
Part 3: Setting SMART Goals
A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
My SMART Goal: ___________________________
e.g., Improve my math grade from C to B by semester’s end.
Specific: ___________________________
e.g., Increase test average from 75% to 85%.
Measurable: ___________________________
e.g., Track scores on quizzes and tests weekly.
Achievable: ___________________________
e.g., I have access to a tutor and after-school help.
Relevant: ___________________________
e.g., Boosting my math grade supports my goal of a strong GPA.
Time-bound: ___________________________
e.g., By December 15.
Part 4: Action Plan
List three steps you will take to reach your goal:
-
___________________________
e.g., Attend weekly math tutoring. -
___________________________
e.g., Complete 10 practice problems each weekend. -
___________________________
e.g., Review notes 15 minutes every evening.
Resources or support I will need:
- ___________________________
e.g., Math tutor and quiet study space. - ___________________________
e.g., Online tutorials (Khan Academy).
Possible obstacles and solutions:
Obstacle: ___________________________ Solution: ___________________________
e.g., Tired after practice – study before dinner.
Part 5: Reflection and Next Steps
How will I track my progress? ___________________________
e.g., Keep a weekly grade log.
How will achieving this goal make me feel? ___________________________
e.g., Proud and confident.
Plan a self-check-in date: ___________________________
e.g., December 1.
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Answer Key
Winning Strategy Answer Key
This answer key provides counselors with model responses and a detailed thought process for guiding 9th grade students through the What’s Your Winning Strategy? Worksheet. Use these examples to support students’ self‐reflection and goal setting.
Part 1: Identify Your Personal Strengths
Thought Process
- Encourage the student to reflect on qualities that come naturally (e.g., resilience, empathy, time management).
- Remind them of past successes—what helped them succeed?
- Select three distinct strengths to build a well‐rounded profile.
Sample Answers
- Strength #1: Resilience
- Strength #2: Time Management
- Strength #3: Communication Skills
Part 2: Strengths in Action
Thought Process
- Ask the student to recall a specific challenge (academic, social, extracurricular).
- Have them describe briefly what happened.
- Connect one of their listed strengths to how it made a difference.
Sample Answers
- Challenge I faced: I was struggling to keep up with homework when I joined the basketball team mid-season.
- How my strength helped me: My time management skill helped me create a daily schedule, balancing practice and study time so I stayed on track academically.
Part 3: Setting SMART Goals
Thought Process
- Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
- Measurable: How will you know you’ve succeeded?
- Achievable: Is this realistic given your resources?
- Relevant: Does this align with your values or larger aims?
- Time-bound: What is your deadline?
Sample SMART Goal
My SMART Goal: Raise my math grade from a C to a B+ by the end of the current semester.
- Specific: I will improve from a 75% average to at least an 85% average in my math class.
- Measurable: I will track my quiz and test scores and calculate my average weekly.
- Achievable: I currently have a C; with focused tutoring and extra practice, a B+ is realistic.
- Relevant: Improving my math grade will boost my overall GPA and confidence in STEM subjects.
- Time-bound: I want to reach this goal by the last week of the semester (12 weeks from now).
Part 4: Action Plan
Thought Process
- Break the goal into three manageable steps.
- Identify resources (people, tools) needed.
- Anticipate obstacles and brainstorm solutions.
Sample Answers
Steps to reach my goal:
- Attend weekly math tutoring sessions after school every Tuesday.
- Complete 10 practice problems from each chapter on the weekend.
- Review notes and rewrite formulas every evening for 15 minutes.
Resources or support I will need:
- Math tutor (Ms. Davis) and a quiet study space at home.
- Access to online video tutorials (Khan Academy).
Possible obstacles and solutions:
- Obstacle: Procrastination on weekend practice.
Solution: Set a reminder on my phone and study with a friend for accountability. - Obstacle: Fatigue after sports practice.
Solution: Schedule practice problems before dinner when I have more energy.
Part 5: Reflection and Next Steps
Thought Process
- Determine how the student will monitor progress (logs, checklists).
- Explore the emotional impact of success to reinforce motivation.
- Schedule a clear check-in date for accountability.
Sample Answers
- How will I track my progress? I will maintain a weekly grade log in my notebook and update it after every quiz or test.
- How will achieving this goal make me feel? I will feel proud, confident, and less stressed about math.
- Plan a check-in date with your counselor: December 10th at our next session.
Materials: