An individualized 90-minute lesson for 5th-grade students to reframe retention as a growth opportunity, set SMART goals, and build self-advocacy skills through a 'Superstar' theme.
Encourage student to brainstorm. Help them identify strengths if they struggle. Write down their ideas on a whiteboard or scratch paper. Display Slide 4: "The Growth Mindset Magic"
"Now, here's a secret superpower: your mindset! Have you ever heard of a 'growth mindset'? It's like magic! It means believing that your abilities can grow and improve with effort and practice, just like muscles get stronger when you exercise them. If something is hard, instead of saying, 'I can't do it,' someone with a growth mindset says, 'I can't do it yet, but I can learn!' How do you think having a growth mindset can help you this year?"
4
Crafting Your Success Map: Goal Setting (25 min)
Distribute the Goal Setting Worksheet. Display Slide 5: "Craft Your Success Map"
"Okay, Superstars, it's time to create your very own Success Map! We're going to set some exciting goals for this year. Goals are like destinations on a map; they tell us where we want to go. We'll set a few goals – one for academics (like reading more or mastering multiplication) and one for your social-emotional well-being (like making new friends or managing your feelings when things get tough)."
"Let's make these SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of 'I want to be better at math,' a SMART goal might be, 'I will practice my multiplication facts for 10 minutes every evening so I can quickly solve 8 out of 10 problems by the end of October.' What are some ideas you have for your goals?"
Guide the student through the Goal Setting Worksheet. Display Slide 6: "Small Steps, Big Dreams"
"Awesome! Now that we have your goals, let's think about the small steps you can take to reach them. Big journeys are made of small steps, right? On this worksheet, write down 2-3 small, actionable steps for each goal. These are things you can do every week to get closer to your big goal. I'll help you brainstorm some ideas!"
5
My Success Map Activity & Celebration (15 min)
Distribute the My Success Map Activity and Inspirational Quotes Handout.
"Wow, you've created an amazing Success Map! To celebrate, we're going to make a 'My Success Map' where you can draw or write out your goals and the steps you'll take. You can even include some of these awesome Inspirational Quotes that resonate with you. This is something you can keep somewhere visible to remind you of your superpowers and your goals!"
Allow the student to start the activity. Offer encouragement.
"Remember, [Student's Name], you are a Second Chance Superstar! This year is your opportunity to shine, to grow, and to show everyone, especially yourself, just how incredible you are. I'm here to support you every step of the way. We can check in on your goals regularly if you'd like. How do you feel about your plan?"
