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Your Future Starts Now

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Lesson Plan

College Readiness 101

Students will define college readiness, identify key academic and personal skills, and create a simple SMART goal to start building their college preparedness journey.

Early exposure to college readiness helps students recognize the skills and habits needed for future success, boosting motivation and encouraging purposeful goal-setting from middle school onward.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, paired reflection, and individual goal-setting.

Materials

College Readiness Definitions Worksheet, SMART Goal Planner, Whiteboard and markers, and Paper and pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Activation

3 minutes

  • Ask: “What comes to mind when you hear ‘college’?” and record responses on the whiteboard
  • Briefly define college readiness as the skills and habits needed to succeed in postsecondary education
  • Explain lesson goals: defining readiness, reflecting on skills, and setting a SMART goal

Step 2

Define Key Skills

5 minutes

  • Distribute College Readiness Definitions Worksheet
  • Read aloud 3–4 sample skills/habits (e.g., time management, critical thinking)
  • In pairs, students choose one skill they think is most important and share why
  • Invite 2–3 pairs to report out to the class

Step 3

SMART Goal Setting

5 minutes

  • Distribute SMART Goal Planner
  • Model an example SMART goal related to a readiness skill (e.g., “I will organize my homework planner every day for one week.”)
  • Students draft their own 1–2 sentence SMART goal focused on improving a chosen skill

Step 4

Share & Wrap-Up

2 minutes

  • Invite 1–2 students to read their SMART goal aloud
  • Summarize: Emphasize that small, specific goals build habits that lead to college readiness
  • Collect planners or have students keep them for reflection later
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Slide Deck

Your Future Starts Now

An introduction to college readiness:
• What it is
• Why it matters
• How you can get started today!

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today they’ll learn about college readiness—what it means and how to start building the skills now. Highlight that small steps today matter for future success.

What Is College Readiness?

College readiness is the set of skills and habits you need to succeed in post-secondary education, such as:
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Effective communication
• Self-advocacy

Define college readiness in your own words and emphasize that it’s more than grades—it’s a set of skills and habits. Ask students to think of things they already do that help them succeed.

Key Skills for Success

  1. Time Management – Prioritizing and planning tasks
  2. Critical Thinking – Analyzing and solving problems
  3. Study Habits – Effective note-taking and review
  4. Self-Advocacy – Asking for help when needed

List several key skills on the whiteboard and briefly describe each. Encourage students to consider which they use now and which they want to improve.

Pair & Share Activity

  1. Grab your College Readiness Definitions Worksheet.
  2. In pairs, pick one skill you think is most important.
  3. Discuss why it matters and how you can practice it.
  4. Be ready to share with the class.

Explain the paired activity. Distribute the College Readiness Definitions Worksheet. Circulate and prompt pairs to explain their choice to each other.

Setting SMART Goals

Use the SMART framework:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Relevant
T – Time-bound

Example:
“I will organize my homework planner every day for one week.”

Introduce the SMART framework. Model writing the example goal on the board. Hand out the SMART Goal Planner and guide students as they draft their own goal.

Wrap-Up & Reflection

• Share your SMART goal with a partner or the class.
• Think about one step you’ll take today.
• Keep your SMART Goal Planner for next time!

Invite 1–2 volunteers to share their SMART goal aloud. Reinforce that setting small, clear goals builds habits. Encourage students to keep their planners for future reflection.

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Worksheet

College Readiness Definitions Worksheet

Below are some key skills and habits that help you succeed in college and beyond. Read each definition carefully. Then complete the reflection questions below.

Key Skills and Definitions

• Time Management – Prioritizing tasks and planning how to use your time effectively.


• Critical Thinking – Analyzing information, asking questions, and solving problems.


• Effective Communication – Expressing ideas clearly in writing, speaking, and listening.


• Self-Advocacy – Asking for help, resources, or clarification when you need it.


• Study Habits – Using strategies like note-taking, reviewing, and practice to retain information.

Reflection Questions

  1. Which skill above do you think is most important for college readiness?



  2. Explain why you chose that skill. How does it help you succeed?






  3. Describe a time when you’ve already used this skill. What happened?






  4. What is one specific way you can practice this skill this week?



  5. After discussing with a partner, write one new idea or tip you learned about improving this skill.



Be ready to share your reflections during our paired activity!

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Worksheet

SMART Goal Planner

Use this template to create a SMART goal focused on improving your college readiness skills. Fill in each section below.

S – Specific: What exactly do you want to accomplish?




M – Measurable: How will you know you’ve achieved it?




A – Achievable: Is this goal realistic? What steps will you take?




R – Relevant: Why is this goal important for your college readiness?




T – Time-bound: When will you complete this goal?




My SMART Goal

Write your complete goal statement here:











Be ready to share your SMART goal with a partner or the class!

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