Your Credit Comeback: Teacher Script

Warm-Up: What's Your Goal? (5 minutes)

(Slide 1: Your Credit Comeback: Level Up Your Grades!)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Welcome to 'Your Credit Comeback: Level Up Your Grades!' Today is all about empowering you to take control of your academic journey and set yourself up for an amazing future."

"To get us started, I want you to think about this question: What's one academic goal you have for this semester? It could be anything – getting an A in a specific class, turning in all your homework, understanding a tough subject better. Take a moment to think about it. You don't have to share it out loud just yet, but hold onto that thought."

(Pause briefly for students to think.)

(Slide 2: Why This Matters: Your Path to Graduation)

"Today, we're here to learn some incredibly powerful strategies that will not only help you this semester but will also be valuable skills for the rest of your life. We're going to focus on how to:

• Boost your academic performance.
• Manage your time like a pro.
• Prioritize tasks effectively.
• Understand exactly how credits get you to high school graduation.
• And, very importantly, how to spot and avoid behaviors that might be holding you back."

"Being credit-deficient can feel like a challenge, but I want you to see it as a huge opportunity. It means you have the chance to learn powerful new strategies right now. This lesson is truly about empowering you to take charge, making sure you earn the credits you need for graduation, and developing real-life skills like time management and prioritization that you'll use far beyond high school. It's about helping you stay on track and identifying habits that might be slowing you down, so we can overcome them together."

Time Management & Prioritization Power-Up (8 minutes)

(Slide 3: Time Management: Be the Boss of Your Schedule!)

"Now, raise your hand if you've ever felt like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done?" (Wait for responses) "You're not alone! That's where time management comes in. What do you think 'time management' means?" (Allow a few student responses)

"Exactly! Time management is about planning and controlling how you spend your time so you can work more effectively and, honestly, have less stress! Why do you think it's especially important for students?"

"That's right! Good time management helps you finish assignments on time, study for tests without all that last-minute panic, and still have time for your friends, hobbies, and just relaxing. A key strategy is using a weekly planner. It doesn't have to be fancy; it can be on your phone, a notebook, or even just a piece of paper. The idea is to block out your fixed times, like classes, work, or sports, and then schedule dedicated study blocks. And please, don't forget to schedule breaks and personal time! It's important for your well-being."

(Slide 4: Prioritization: What's Most Important?)

"Next up: prioritization. Not all tasks are created equal, are they? Some things need your attention right now, while others can definitely wait. Why is it so important to prioritize?"

"When you prioritize, you focus on what truly matters, which reduces stress and ensures you complete critical assignments first. I want to introduce you to a simple but powerful tool called the Urgent/Important Matrix."

• Urgent & Important: These are your top priority. Do them first! Think of an assignment due tomorrow or studying for a test next hour.
• Important but Not Urgent: These are important for your long-term success but don't have an immediate deadline. You should schedule these! Examples include planning a long-term project or reviewing your notes daily.
• Urgent but Not Important: These demand your attention immediately but might not contribute significantly to your goals. Try to minimize these or, if possible, delegate them. Like a quick errand for someone or responding to non-critical texts.
• Not Urgent & Not Important: These are things you should do last, or even better, try to eliminate them from your schedule. Endless social media scrolling or excessive gaming often fall into this category when it interferes with your goals."

(Slide 5: Your Turn: Prioritize Like a Pro!)

"Let's put this into practice. I'm going to hand out the Credit Comeback Worksheet. Please take one."

(Distribute the worksheets.)

"On the worksheet, I want you to list 3-5 upcoming academic tasks or responsibilities you have. These could be homework assignments, a project, studying for a quiz, anything related to school. Then, for each task, I want you to decide which category it falls into: Urgent/Important, Important but Not Urgent, etc. Finally, number them in the order you think you should tackle them."

(Allow 3-4 minutes for students to complete this section of the worksheet.)

"How did that feel? Does doing this help you feel more in control of your workload? (Allow a few responses) It really can make a difference, can't it?"

Credit Counts: The Graduation Game (7 minutes)

(Slide 6: Credits Count: Your Path to Graduation)

"Let's talk about something super important: credits. Every class you successfully pass earns you credits, and these credits are your absolute ticket to high school graduation! What do you understand about credits?"

"Basically, credits are units that represent the successful completion of a course. You need a certain number of these credits, in specific subjects, to graduate. So, when we talk about being credit deficient, it simply means you haven't earned enough credits for your current grade level. It's a signal, but it's not the end of the world! It's a signal that we need to work together to get you back on track."

"Let's quickly discuss some common reasons students become credit deficient, and more importantly, how we can fix them:

• Poor Attendance: If you're not in class, you're missing out on learning and participation, which impacts your grades. The fix? Show up to class!
• Missing Assignments: Every assignment is usually worth points towards your grade and often helps you understand the material. The fix? Turn in ALL your work, even if it's late.
• Low Grades: Sometimes the material is tough, or you just don't understand it. The fix? Ask for help, study more, and utilize school resources like tutoring.
• Not Asking for Help: This is a big one! Your teachers, counselors, and I are all here for you. We want to help you succeed. If you're struggling, please reach out!"

"Remember, every credit you earn is a step closer to that diploma."

Spotting At-Risk Behaviors & Setting Success Goals (7 minutes)

(Slide 7: Spotting At-Risk Behaviors & Setting Success Goals)

"Sometimes, without even realizing it, our actions can put our academic success at risk. Recognizing these behaviors in ourselves is the very first step to changing them. What are some 'at-risk' behaviors you've observed in school, either in yourselves or others, that can lead to falling behind?"

"Great examples! At-risk behaviors can include things like skipping class or being frequently late, not turning in homework, procrastinating on projects until the last minute, not studying for tests, or avoiding asking for help when you really need it."

"Now, we're going to do a quick Goal Setting & Risk Recognition Activity. I'm going to hand out small slips of paper."

(Distribute slips of paper for the activity.)

"On this slip, I want you to anonymously write down one at-risk behavior you recognize in yourself or that you've seen others do related to school. Then, below it, write down one concrete step you can take to change or mitigate that behavior. For example, if the behavior is 'procrastinating on homework,' a step could be 'start homework immediately after school for 30 minutes.'"

(Allow 3-4 minutes for students to write.)

"Okay, now I'm going to collect these." (Collect the slips.) "Let's discuss a few of these anonymously. (Read 2-3 examples aloud and facilitate a brief discussion, brainstorming solutions with the group for each.) This exercise shows that we all face challenges, but we also have the power to make positive changes."

Cool-Down: One Step Forward (3 minutes)

(Slide 8: Your Comeback Starts Now!)

"We're almost out of time! You all have the power to turn things around and achieve your goals. Let's quickly review our key takeaways for today:

• Plan Your Time: Use a planner, schedule your study times.
• Prioritize Tasks: Figure out what's most important and do it first.
• Credits Count: Every single class matters for graduation.
• Recognize & Change: Be aware of at-risk behaviors and actively work to improve them."

"To wrap up, I want each of you to silently reflect on one new strategy you will try this week from what we discussed today. Just one thing you can put into action."

"Please hand in your Credit Comeback Worksheet before you go."

(Collect worksheets.)

"Thank you all for your active participation today. Remember, your comeback starts now, and we are all here to support you on your journey to academic success and graduation! Don't hesitate to reach out to your teachers or counselors if you need help or have questions. You've got this!"

Credit Comeback Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: _____________

Part 1: Prioritize Like a Pro!

Think about your upcoming academic tasks and responsibilities (homework, studying, projects, etc.). List 3-5 of them below. Then, for each task, decide which category it falls into using the definitions we discussed (Urgent & Important, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, Not Urgent & Not Important). Finally, number them from 1 to 5, with 1 being the task you should tackle first.

My Academic Tasks:

1. Task: ____________________________________________________________________
   Category (Circle One): Urgent & Important | Important but Not Urgent | Urgent but Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important
   Priority Order: _______
   
   
   

2. Task: ____________________________________________________________________
   Category (Circle One): Urgent & Important | Important but Not Urgent | Urgent but Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important
   Priority Order: _______
   
   
   

3. Task: ____________________________________________________________________
   Category (Circle One): Urgent & Important | Important but Not Urgent | Urgent but Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important
   Priority Order: _______
   
   
   

4. Task: ____________________________________________________________________
   Category (Circle One): Urgent & Important | Important but Not Urgent | Urgent but Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important
   Priority Order: _______
   
   
   

5. Task: ____________________________________________________________________
   Category (Circle One): Urgent & Important | Important but Not Urgent | Urgent but Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important
   Priority Order: _______
   
   
   

Part 2: Reflect and Plan

1. How does prioritizing your tasks in this way make you feel about your workload?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one specific credit-deficient course you need to focus on? What is one step you can take this week to improve your standing in that class?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Thinking about today's lesson, what is one new time management or study strategy you commit to trying in the next few days?