Summary: This is a two part lesson. The first part is guided notes with a slideshow. Students start by reflecting on their time management strategies. Then the lesson moves into the benefits of keeping an up to do date calendar and of using a program like Google Keep for reminders. Next, the lesson goes into to-do lists, how to create them and options for organizing them. This then introduces a section on prioritizing, what it means and how to do it with students giving advice for how hypothetical students should prioritize their time. The lesson then goes back to to-do lists with strategies for prioritizing to-do list items and practice time. Then the lesson switches to an independent, on-line activity where they demonstrate their abilities to use Google calendar and Google Keep.

Teaching notes: The independent activity has lots of screen shots and examples for students to follow– they can normally do it fairly well on their own. Some students will blaze through it while others will need up to 30 minutes on it. The digital activity is below. If you can’t copy it from the embedded slideshow, use this link.

Approximate length: 60-80 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.