Mission Launch Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 1 of 6
Mission Launch Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Core Objectives
Demystify executive functioning (EF)
Establish psycho-safety & group norms
Administer Baseline EF Radar
Materials Needed
Copies of Baseline Radar Handout
Chart paper & colored markers
Timer or visual clock display
Key Metaphor
The Air Traffic Controller: The prefrontal cortex manages incoming planes (thoughts, tasks, impulses) safely onto runways.
Session 1 Pacing & Structure
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Script Highlights 00-08m Welcome & Hook: The Tower Introduce the "Air Traffic Controller" concept. Ask: "Have you ever had 10 planes trying to land on one runway in your head?" 08-18m Co-Creating Norms Build "Flight Rules": Confidentiality, non-judgmental zone, zero shame about messy folders, and shared accountability. 18-35m Baseline EF Radar Distribute handout. Guide students through self-scoring the 4 domains: Planning, Time, Organization, and Focus. 35-45m Goal Setting Contract Students identify one "High-Friction Target" to conquer across the 6 weeks and sign their personal commitment. 45-50m Debrief & Launch Out Pair-share: One area of natural strength and one area of growth. Collect folders for the next session.
Verbatim Launch Script
"Welcome to Mission Control. Everyone in this room is capable, intelligent, and ambitious. But our brains don't come with pre-installed operating manuals for school lockers, digital chaos, and huge term projects. Executive functioning isn't about how smart you are; it's about the tools you use to direct your energy. Over the next six weeks, we aren't here to lecture you—we're here to build your personalized control panel."
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Confidential Group Resource Page 1 of 1
Baseline Radar Handout Mission Control • Diagnostic Assessment
Executive Functioning Baseline Radar
Name:
Date:
Rating Scale:
1: Rarely / Struggle 2: Inconsistent 3: Usually / Solid 4: Mastered / Automatic
Domain 1: Planning & Prioritizing Circle 1-4
I break multi-week projects into smaller, manageable milestones.
1234
When I have multiple assignments, I know which one to start first.
1234
Domain 2: Time Management Circle 1-4
My estimates of how long an assignment will take are usually accurate.
1234
I check my schedule or planner daily without being repeatedly reminded.
1234
Domain 3: Organization & Materials Circle 1-4
I can find completed homework in my backpack or digital drive in under 30 seconds.
1234
My workspace and notebook systems stay neat throughout the school term.
1234
Domain 4: Focus & Self-Regulation Circle 1-4
I start homework within 5 minutes of sitting down rather than stalling.
1234
When an assignment feels confusing or tedious, I stay calm and push through.
1234
My 6-Week Target Commitment
1. Based on my ratings above, my greatest natural strength is:
2. The one friction zone I will commit to upgrading during Mission Control is:
Student Signature:
Facilitator Initials:
Mission Control Group • Student Diagnostic Baseline Session 1 of 6
Priority Power Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 2 of 6
Priority Power Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Concept 1: The Micro-Chunking Rule
The brain freezes when faced with a "boulder" (e.g., "Write 5-page history paper" ). We teach students to smash boulders into pebbles: actions that take 15 minutes or less, begin with an active verb, and have a clear physical stopping point.
Concept 2: Eisenhower Student Matrix
Distinguishing Urgent vs. Important . Teens often spend 90% of energy on Quadrant 1 (Crises / Due Tomorrow) and Quadrant 4 (Distractions / Scrolling), ignoring Quadrant 2 (Proactive Study / Long-term Projects).
Session 2 Pacing & Activity Flow
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Guided Prompts 00-05m Check-In & Wins Review Week 1 goal targets. Prompt: "Who noticed an air traffic jam in their head this week?" 05-15m The Boulder vs. Pebble Demo Model converting "Study for Science Midterm" into 4 distinct pebble actions (Vocab flashcards, Diagram labeling, Practice test, Formula sheet). 15-30m Matrix Sorting Lab Distribute Task Triage Worksheet. Guide students through sorting a messy week of school, sports, chores, and phone time into the 4 quadrants. 30-45m Live Project Breakdown Students apply the chunking protocol to one real pending assignment currently due in their actual classes. 45-50m Commitment Wrap Each student identifies their #1 Priority Pebble to tackle first tonight before touching leisure tech.
Coaching Tip: Resistance & Overwhelm
If a student says "Everything is urgent and I have no time," acknowledge the stress first. Validate that feeling overwhelmed is normal. Then ask: "If you could only turn in one assignment tomorrow to preserve your grade, which one has the biggest consequence?" That anchors Quadrant 1 immediately.
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Planning & Prioritizing Module Page 1 of 1
Task Triage Worksheet Mission Control • Planning & Prioritizing
Task Triage & Chunking Lab
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Micro-Chunking Roadmap
Rules: Must start with a verb • Under 20 min
Select One Current Overwhelming Assignment ("The Boulder"):
Pebble 1 (Setup) 5-10 min
Pebble 2 (Core A) 15-20 min
Pebble 3 (Core B) 15-20 min
Pebble 4 (Review) 5-10 min
Part 2: The Priority Matrix (Sort Your Tasks for this Week)
Where should your focus go first?
Q1: DO NOW (Urgent & Important) Due Tomorrow / Crises
Q2: SCHEDULE (Not Urgent & Important) Long-Term / Proactive
Q3: MINIMIZE (Urgent & Not Important) Interruptions / Quick Asks
Q4: ELIMINATE / PARK (Not Urgent & Not Important) Mindless Scrolling / Traps
My single #1 Priority Task when I sit down today is:
Mission Control Group • Planning & Prioritizing Toolkit Session 2 of 6
Clock Craft Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 3 of 6
Clock Craft Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Concept 1: Time Blindness vs. Reality
Students with executive challenges perceive time as binary: "NOW" or "NOT NOW" . They habitually underestimate task duration by 50% and overestimate how much study time they actually have available after sports/dinner.
Concept 2: The 1.5x Multiplier & Time Blocks
Teach the 1.5x Rule : Always multiply gut-feel task time by 1.5 to account for friction, transitions, and mental fatigue. Map tasks onto fixed visual time blocks rather than floating to-do lists.
Session 3 Pacing & Activity Flow
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Guided Prompts 00-05m Check-In & Matrix Review Group check: Who tackled their #1 Pebble before opening social apps? Share wins and friction. 05-15m The 60-Second Blind Test Interactive activity: Students close eyes, heads down. Raise hand when they think exactly 60 seconds have passed. (Discuss perception gaps). 15-30m Time Budgeting Lab Distribute Time Budget Log. Guide students through calculating their "True Free Hours" after school activities, family dinner, and sleep. 30-45m The Pomodoro & Sprint Plan Introduce 25-on / 5-off work sprints. Students design their exact sprint routine for tonight's workload using the 1.5x rule. 45-50m Reflection & Checkout Students write down their target "Digital Sunset" time (the hour all homework/study screens power down).
Facilitator Discussion Prompt
"Have you ever told yourself, 'I have 4 hours before bedtime, so I have plenty of time,' only to realize that between eating dinner, showering, texting friends, and finding your notes, you only had 45 minutes? Time isn't elastic. Today we learn how to budget hours just like cash."
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Time Management Module Page 1 of 1
Time Budget Log Mission Control • Time Management
Time Budget & Sprint Log
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Estimation Reality Check (The 1.5x Multiplier)
Formula: My Estimate × 1.5 = Reality Target
Assignment / Task My Initial Guess 1.5x Reality Time Actual Time Spent 1. ____ min ____ min ____ min 2. ____ min ____ min ____ min 3. ____ min ____ min ____ min
Part 2: Tonight's Time Block Blueprint
Block 1: Transition
3:30 - 4:15 PM
Snack, decompression, unpack backpack.
Block 2: High Energy
4:15 - 5:30 PM
Toughest task / #1 Priority Pebble.
Block 3: Maintenance
6:30 - 7:30 PM
Quick reading, worksheets, flashcards.
Block 4: Wind Down
8:30 PM Onward
Digital sunset & backpack re-pack.
Part 3: 25/5 Sprint Tracker (Tonight's Session)
Sprint 1 (25 min) Target
Focus Task:
5-min Break Activity:
Sprint 2 (25 min) Target
Focus Task:
5-min Break Activity:
Sprint 3 (25 min) Target
Focus Task:
Longer Break (15 min):
Mission Control Group • Time Management Mastery Session 3 of 6
System Overhaul Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 4 of 6
System Overhaul Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Concept 1: The 3-Folder Active System
Students struggle with 7 separate binders. Introduce the universal 3-pocket system: Folder 1: Work In Progress (Take-Home) , Folder 2: Ready to Turn In (Leave-At-School) , and Folder 3: Home Archive (Reference) .
Concept 2: Digital Desktop Zero
A chaotic computer desktop or Google Drive generates cognitive fatigue before study even begins. Model naming conventions: [Subject]_[Assignment]_[Date] and a simplified single-root folder tree.
Session 4 Pacing & Activity Flow
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Guided Prompts 00-05m Check-In & Homework Audit Group check: Did anyone catch themselves in a 1.5x time crunch? Normalize friction. 05-15m The 10-Minute Backpack Purge Students physically empty their backpacks onto a designated table. Triage into 3 piles: Trash, File, and Keep. Zero shame zone. 15-30m Folder & Pouch Re-Architecture Distribute Space Architect Checklist. Assign permanent home zones for chargers, calculators, pens, and homework folders. 30-42m Digital Triage Blueprint Demonstrate 3-tier folder setup for Chromebooks / Google Drive (Current Semester → Subject → Units). Clean 5 orphan files. 42-50m Sunday Reset Protocol Introduce the weekly 15-minute maintenance ritual. Students pick a recurring anchor time (e.g., Sunday 7:00 PM).
Facilitator Non-Judgment Reminder
"A crumpled paper at the bottom of your bag is not a moral failure. It's just a system bug. When systems require 10 steps to file a paper, brains drop them on the floor. Our goal today is 1-step systems: fast in, fast out, zero hassle."
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Organization & Systems Module Page 1 of 1
Space Architect Checklist Mission Control • Organization & Materials
Space & Systems Architect Blueprint
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Backpack & Folder 3-Zone Architecture
Zone 1: Active In-Progress
Folder / pocket for items being worked on right now.
Tonight's homework
Study guides for test week
Zone 2: Ready to Turn In
Dedicated single home for finished assignments.
Signed permission slips
Printed essays / labs
Zone 3: Home Archive
Stays at home. Never clutters school bag.
Graded past unit tests
Old reference notes
Part 2: The 3-Level Digital Drive File Map
Level 1: School Year (e.g. 2026-2027)
Level 2: Subject Folders (Math, English, Science)
Level 3: Units / Assignments
Golden File Naming Rule: [Subject]_[AssignmentName]_[Date] Example: Bio_CellLabReport_0920
Part 3: The 15-Minute Weekly Reset Protocol
1. Backpack Purge: Dump trash, throw away snack wrappers, archive old papers.
4 Min
2. Portal Grade Check: Log into online gradebook. Identify any missing work.
4 Min
3. Gear Re-Stock: Pencils sharpened, laptop charged to 100%, calculator in pouch.
4 Min
4. Calendar Preview: Scan upcoming tests and long-term due dates for the week ahead.
3 Min
My weekly reset day & time will be:
Mission Control Group • Organization & Systems Checklist Session 4 of 6
Focus Launchpad Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 5 of 6
Focus Launchpad Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Concept 1: Initiation Friction & The Amygdala
Procrastination is an emotional regulation problem , not a character flaw. The brain interprets difficult, ambiguous, or boring tasks as micro-threats. The amygdala prompts escape toward dopamine-heavy digital distractions.
Concept 2: The 5-Minute Ignition Rule
Physics of executive function: Initiation requires 80% of mental energy ; momentum carries the rest. Make a non-threatening deal with oneself: "I will work for exactly 5 minutes. If I still hate it, I am allowed to pause." 85% of the time, students keep going.
Session 5 Pacing & Activity Flow
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Guided Prompts 00-05m Check-In & System Status Celebrate backpack/binder resets from Week 4. How did the Sunday reset go? 05-15m The Anatomy of Avoidance Draw the "Task Wall" on whiteboard. Normalize the physical sensation of dread when starting homework. Introduce dopamine pairing (music, cozy beverage). 15-30m Distraction Shield Audit Distribute Launchpad Booster Worksheet. Identify each student's top 2 "Black Hole Distractions" and establish physical barriers (phone in another room, site blockers). 30-42m Live 5-Minute Launch Sprint Students open a task they have been actively dreading. Set a visual 5-minute timer. Complete only step 1. Observe how anxiety drops once motion starts. 42-50m Frustration Reset Anchors Teach the "3 Deep Breaths & Reset" physical anchor for when assignments trigger cognitive rage or shut down.
Facilitator Reframing Script
"When you sit down and look at an essay prompt and instantly want to clean your room or check Instagram, you aren't lazy. Your brain is trying to save you from uncomfortable feelings of inadequacy or boredom. We don't fight the feeling; we lower the bar of starting so low that the brain can't say no."
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Focus & Self-Regulation Module Page 1 of 1
Launchpad Booster Worksheet Mission Control • Focus & Self-Regulation
Task Initiation & Focus Booster
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Friction Diagnostic (Why am I avoiding this task?)
"It's Too Ambiguous"
I don't know what the teacher actually expects or where to start.
Fix: Ask 1 clarifying question or look at an exemplar.
"It's Too Boring / Tedious"
My brain is starving for stimulation and dopamine.
Fix: Dopamine pairing (lo-fi beats, tasty snack, timer sprint).
"I Might Fail / Fear"
Perfectionism is freezing me into doing nothing.
Fix: Lower the bar. Write a "terrible rough draft" first.
Part 2: The 5-Minute Ignition Protocol
1. The Dreaded Task I am avoiding:
2. The "Micro-Starter" Action (Something so tiny it takes under 60 seconds, e.g. open the doc, type title):
3. The 5-Minute Timer Agreement:
I will work for 5 full minutes. If I still want to stop, I can pause guilt-free.
My Distraction Shield
Physical barriers to prevent impulse hijacking.
Phone Physical Location:
Digital Blocker or Tab Rule:
Frustration Reset Protocol
When I feel angry, confused, or overwhelmed:
1 STOP: Hands off keyboard, push chair back.
2 BREATHE: 3 deep exhale sighs (down-regulate amygdala).
3 RESET: Break the next step into an even smaller action.
Mission Control Group • Focus & Self-Regulation Engine Session 5 of 6
Executive Playbook Facilitator Guide Executive Functioning Curriculum • Week 6 of 6
Executive Playbook Facilitator Guide
Facilitator Resource
Duration: 50 Minutes
Concept 1: Metacognitive Consolidation
Skills only stick when students experience themselves as competent problem-solvers. In Week 6, students compare their Week 1 baseline scores against current habits, proving that executive function is a learned muscle rather than a fixed trait.
Concept 2: The Personal Owner's Manual
Every brain has different friction triggers. Students finalize a 1-page "Executive Playbook" detailing their personalized go-to protocols for planning, time, spaces, and focus, plus an emergency recovery plan for rough weeks.
Session 6 Pacing & Activity Flow
Time Segment Facilitator Action & Guided Prompts 00-08m Welcome & Retrospective Open the final session. Celebrate the 6-week journey. Prompt: "What is one habit you had in Week 1 that you have officially upgraded?" 08-20m Post-Assessment Audit Return Week 1 Baseline Handouts. Students complete the Post-Group Growth check on their Playbook Portfolio, graphing numerical improvements across all 4 pillars. 20-35m Playbook Compilation Students document their "Core Arsenal": Favorite chunking method, daily time-block window, backpack reset day, and anti-procrastination trigger. 35-45m Emergency Crisis Protocol Facilitate a scenario: "What happens when midterms hit and you fall off the wagon?" Students write their 3-step reboot sequence. 45-50m Mission Certified Graduation Distribute graduation badges / signed certificates. Each member shares one affirmation about a peer's growth.
Facilitator Closing Ceremony Script
"Six weeks ago, we talked about air traffic controllers and mental gridlock. You didn't just learn tips; you engineered systems that fit how your specific brain operates. Executive functioning isn't about being robotic or perfect—it's about having a compass and a toolkit when life gets chaotic. You are now the captain of your own mission."
Mission Control Facilitator Suite • Graduation & Synthesis Module Page 1 of 1
Executive Playbook Portfolio Mission Control • Final Capstone Portfolio
Personal Executive Playbook
Name:
Date:
Part 1: 6-Week Growth Audit (Scale 1-4) Compare your Week 1 scores with today
Core Skill Pillar Week 1 Score Week 6 Score Growth (+/-) 1. Planning & Prioritizing (Chunking boulders into pebbles) ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ 2. Time Management (1.5x Multiplier & evening blocks) ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ 3. Organization & Systems (3-folder triage & Sunday reset) ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ 4. Focus & Self-Regulation (5-minute rule & shields) ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___
Part 2: My Personal Operating Arsenal (What works best for my brain)
My Top Planning Tactic:
My Ideal Homework Time Window:
My Organization Anchor Ritual:
My Anti-Procrastination Trigger:
Emergency Reboot Sequence (When life gets chaotic)
Step 1: Do a 5-min brain dump • Step 2: Pick ONE Pebble • Step 3: Run a 5-minute timer
Mission Certified
"I pledge to treat executive functioning as a lifelong practice. When I experience setbacks, I will not blame myself—I will debug my system."
Graduate Signature:
Facilitator Endorsement:
Mission Control Group • Capstone Playbook & Graduation Session 6 of 6
