Skills Guide Content
Goal: Emotional state recognition, and mind-set shifting skills
Our mindset, attitudes, beliefs about our skills and abilities can predict whether we give something the attention and work needed to make a change. This step asks them to evaluate how they feel about themselves, their schooling/abilities, and the
planner.
Then we ask the student to commit to giving this planner a small amount of time every day in order to make the growth occur. There is no magical way for this planner to imbue them with motivation; this planner is a tool, if used consistently, will generate positive emotions that then effects their motivation to successfully work on school, studying, and projects.
Activity from Planner
Take a few minutes to think about how you are feeling. Make a mark on each scale to show where you are at.
How do you feel about using this planner?
How do you normally feel about school?
How do you want to feel about school this year?
What could happen if you give this planner just 2-4 minutes every day? Are you willing to give it a try?
Make a CommitmentI will keep this planner with me, put it out on my desk, and use it this school year.
sign your name
Extended Activity
Take a few minutes and answer these questions. Be honest with yourself – don’t worry, we will have you tear out this page so you aren’t carrying around your deep thoughts all school year. You can stash it in a safe place to refer back to later.
Who got this planner for you – Yourself? A parent? A teacher or tutor?
How does it make you feel having received this particular planner? (ex: I don’t know how to be a student, shame, worry, everyone else can do this without help, hopeful there’s a plan to help me?)
What worries do you have about using this planner? (ex: Could be a waste of my time, what if I don’t complete it correctly, what if it doesn’t help?)
How do you usually feel about your school year? (ex: I can’t keep up and be on track. I lose track of where I need to be and what I need to learn. It makes me feel like a failure. My conversations with my adult are about what I didn’t do well or didn’t get done. I want to avoid school and hang out with my friends.)
How do you want to feel about your school year? (ex: Accomplished, because I kept up and on track, I knew when I was in over my head and asked for help before it was too late to fix. My conversations with my adult focused more on life than just school.)
Now reflect for a moment – take a few slow breaths and think about what it would be like to feel good about your school day, managing your week, and having a better year.
What might happen if you give this planner 2-4 minutes of effort per day to organize your day and responsibilities and learn a few new tricks to make it easier? (ex: I would feel good about myself, I could keep trying cause it’s not a ton of time, and the planner tells me how to be organized.)
Now commit to yourself by saying – “I will put this planner on my desk throughout the day to keep it front of mind. I will take it out of my bag when I am studying, and I will talk to my accountability buddies about my progress.” (more on accountability later)
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