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Year-End Reflection Checklist

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Lesson Plan

Year-End Reflection Plan

Students will reflect on their academic and personal growth from the year, identify successes and challenges, set specific summer well-being goals, and develop self-care strategies to support a positive transition into next grade.

This end-of-year check-in fosters self-awareness, celebrates achievements, addresses challenges, and equips students with goal-setting and coping strategies for a healthy, empowered summer and smoother next-grade start.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided reflection, goal-setting, and group discussion.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Objective Overview

3 minutes

  • Greet students and explain the session’s purpose.
  • Display the session goals: reflection, goal-setting, and self-care.
  • Refer students to the End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet.

Step 2

Year-End Reflection

8 minutes

  • Instruct students to complete the first half of the worksheet, noting their top 3 achievements and biggest challenges.
  • Encourage honest, detailed responses.
  • Circulate to provide support and clarification.

Step 3

Summer Goal-Setting

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Summer Goal-Setting Template.
  • Guide students to craft 2–3 SMART goals for summer well-being (e.g., reading daily, regular exercise).
  • Prompt them to list potential obstacles and coping strategies.

Step 4

Pair-Share & Assessment Check-Ins

6 minutes

  • Have students pair up to share one reflection insight and one summer goal.
  • Use this dialogue to assess understanding and clarity of goals.
  • Offer accommodations:
    • Provide sentence starters or verbal prompts for students needing language support.
    • Allow extra processing time or one-on-one check-ins for students with IEPs.
    • Use the Self-Care Strategies Poster as a visual aid for students who benefit from graphic support.

Step 5

Debrief & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as a whole group; invite a few volunteers to share takeaways.
  • Summarize common themes and reinforce the importance of self-care.
  • Collect worksheets for counselor review and follow-up.
  • Encourage students to post their goals in a visible spot at home and revisit them weekly.
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Slide Deck

Year-End Reflection & Summer Goal-Setting

7th Grade Counselor Session
30 Minutes | Tier 1

Welcome students and introduce yourself as the school counselor. Explain that today’s session will focus on reflecting on the school year, setting summer goals, and planning self-care.

Session Objectives

• Reflect on academic and personal growth
• Identify achievements and challenges
• Set 2–3 SMART summer well-being goals
• Explore self-care strategies

Read each objective aloud. Ask students if they have questions about any goal before proceeding.

Year-End Reflection Prompts

• List your top 3 achievements this year
• Describe your biggest challenge
• What strategies helped you succeed?
• What would you do differently next year?

Direct students to the End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet. Remind them to write honestly and in detail.

Set SMART Summer Goals

SMART Criteria:
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

Using the template, write 2–3 goals and note potential obstacles & coping strategies.

Explain each SMART criterion and demonstrate with an example goal. Distribute the Summer Goal-Setting Template.

Self-Care Strategies

Physical: exercise, sleep, healthy eating
Emotional: journaling, deep breathing
Social: connect with friends & family
Mental: mindfulness, reading

Point to the Self-Care Strategies Poster. Encourage students to choose strategies that feel realistic and supportive.

Pair-Share Activity

  1. Pair up with a classmate
  2. Share one reflection insight
  3. Share one summer goal
  4. Provide supportive feedback

Use sentence starters if needed.

Explain how to use the sentence starters if students need help. Circulate to listen in, offer prompts, and ensure all students participate.

Debrief & Next Steps

• Volunteers share key takeaways
• Post goals at home & review weekly
• Counselor will review worksheets & follow up

Invite a few volunteers to share. Reinforce common themes and emphasize regular self-care. Collect worksheets before students leave.

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Worksheet

End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet

Please answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Top 3 Achievements

List your top three achievements this year. What are you most proud of?
Achievement 1:




Achievement 2:




Achievement 3:



2. Biggest Challenge

Describe your biggest challenge this year. What made it challenging?






3. Strategies and Resources

What strategies, resources, or supports helped you overcome challenges or succeed? Provide specific examples.






4. Reflection and Future Actions

If you could go back, what would you do differently to support your growth?






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Worksheet

Summer Goal-Setting Template

Use this template to create 2–3 SMART goals for your summer well-being. For each goal, fill in the details below:

Goal 1

Specific: Describe exactly what you want to achieve.




Measurable: How will you know you have succeeded?




Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you?




Relevant: How does this goal support your well-being?




Time-bound: When will you complete this goal?




Potential Obstacles: What might get in your way?







Coping Strategies: How will you overcome these obstacles? (Refer to Self-Care Strategies Poster if needed)






Goal 2

Specific: Describe exactly what you want to achieve.




Measurable: How will you know you have succeeded?




Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you?




Relevant: How does this goal support your well-being?




Time-bound: When will you complete this goal?




Potential Obstacles: What might get in your way?







Coping Strategies: How will you overcome these obstacles?






Goal 3 (Optional)

Specific: Describe exactly what you want to achieve.




Measurable: How will you know you have succeeded?




Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you?




Relevant: How does this goal support your well-being?




Time-bound: When will you complete this goal?




Potential Obstacles: What might get in your way?







Coping Strategies: How will you overcome these obstacles?






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Reading

Self-Care Strategies Poster

Self-care helps you stay balanced, healthy, and ready to learn. Choose one or two strategies each day!

Physical Self-Care

  • Prioritize 8–10 hours of sleep each night
  • Move your body: walk, stretch, dance, or play sports
  • Eat balanced meals and drink plenty of water

Emotional Self-Care

  • Keep a feelings journal: write or draw what’s on your mind
  • Practice deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation
  • Name your emotions and share them with someone you trust

Social Self-Care

  • Schedule time to connect with friends or family
  • Join a club, team, or online community that interests you
  • Volunteer or help someone in need—giving feels good!

Mental Self-Care

  • Try mindfulness or short meditation exercises
  • Read something you enjoy—fiction, comics, or articles
  • Challenge your brain with puzzles, games, or new skills

Remember: Self-care looks different for everyone. Experiment to find what works best for you!

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Cool Down

Reflection Exit Ticket

Please answer the following prompts before you leave.

1. Key Takeaway

What is one key takeaway from today's session?






2. Action Step

What is one action step you will take this week toward your summer well-being goal?






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