Planner Basics Slides Executive Functioning Skills for 6th Grade
Mission Middle School
Master the Planner:
Your Brain's Best Backup
Turn your daily planner into an unstoppable command center so nothing slips through the cracks.
Free Your Brain
Stop holding it all in memory
Beat the 6-Class Rush
Track multiple teachers easily
Zero Surprise Tests
Spot due dates days ahead
The Science of Working Memory
Why "I'll Just Remember It" Is a Trap
🧠
Brain As Storage
Too many open tabs: ADHD working memory fills up quickly with sights, sounds, and thoughts.
Poof effect: By 3:00 PM, what Science teacher said at 9:00 AM completely disappears!
Constant background stress: Wondering "What did I forget?" all evening long.
Result: High Anxiety & Lost Assignments
💾
Planner As External Drive
Instant mental offload: Writing down a clue frees up brainpower to actually focus in class.
Never forgets: Paper doesn't get distracted by cafeteria chatter or hallway rush.
Clear evening roadmap: Open your book, see the tasks, do them, and relax guilt-free.
Result: Calm Confidence & Free Evenings
"Your brain is for having great ideas, not for storing homework lists!"
The Big Transition
Why Middle School Demands a System
5th Grade
One Home Base
One primary teacher who gives verbal reminders
One whiteboard with all daily assignments listed
Assignments often handed out right as you pack up
Homework is usually due the very next morning
6th Grade Middle School
Fast Paced & Independent
5 to 7 different teachers with different expectations
Bell rings and you have 4 minutes to sprint to class
Assignments written on random corners of whiteboards
Long-term projects due 2 to 3 weeks away
The Secret: Your planner is the ONE thing that travels to every class with you! 🎒 Stay equipped
Precision Habits
The Anatomy of a Clear Planner Entry
❌ The Mystery Note High Stress
"Math hw"
⚠️ Which pages? Which numbers?
⚠️ Is it due tomorrow or Friday?
⚠️ Do I need the workbook or online portal?
⚠️ Result: Giving up because you can't start!
✅ The Action Plan Zero Stress
Math: P. 54 #1-12 (Evens only)
📦 Bring: Blue Workbook ⏰ Due: Tomorrow
✨ Action: Exact problem numbers listed
✨ Tool: Exactly which book to put in backpack
✨ Deadline: Specific day so you don't panic
✨ Check-box: A little box ready to check off!
Golden Formula: WHAT (Exact Task) + WITH WHAT (Supplies) + WHEN (Due Date)
Classroom Routine
The 3-Step Daily Capture Habit
1
Land & Open
The second you sit in your desk, take your planner out and flip to today's date. Keep it open next to your binder.
If it's closed, it doesn't exist!
2
Spot & Jot
Scan the teacher's board or screen for the assignment. Write it down before the lesson begins, not as you run out the door.
Takes 15 seconds at the start!
3
Box & Star
Draw an empty checkbox `[ ]` next to the task. Put a little ⭐ star next to anything that requires packing supplies into your backpack.
Instant dopamine when checked!
Never wait for the bell! Bell time is noisy and chaotic—catch it early.
Visual Organization
Color-Coding: Highlighting for Speed
Teal / Blue
Math & Science
Calculations, labs, textbook practice problems
Folder match: Blue
Coral / Orange
English & Social Studies
Reading chapters, essays, vocabulary lists
Folder match: Red/Orange
Purple High Alert
Quizzes & Big Tests
Anything that counts toward a major grade
Jumps off the page!
Yellow Glow
Sports, Clubs & Fun
Track practice, art club, playdates, birthdays
Life beyond homework!
💡 Pro Tip: Match your highlighter color to your subject folder color! Visual matching speeds up packing by 50%
Daily Capture Worksheet Mission Middle School: Daily Capture
Level 1 • Planner Setup & Habit Training
Name:
Date:
The 3 Golden Clues: 1. WHAT (Exact task/pages) • 2. WITH WHAT (Book/materials to pack) • 3. WHEN (Specific due date)
Step 1: Spot the Clues on Teacher Boards
Scenario: Tuesday at Oak Creek Middle School
Period 1: Math (Mr. Ortiz) Board Note
"Homework: Textbook P. 88 #2-18 (Evens only). Need blue notebook. Due tomorrow Wednesday!"
Period 2: English (Mrs. Kim) Board Note
"Read Ch. 4-5 of novel. Write 3 character clues in journal. Due Thursday morning."
Period 4: Science (Ms. Vance) Board Note
"Solar System Lab Conclusion draft. Must bring Lab Binder home. Due this Friday!"
Period 6: History (Mr. Chen) Big Alert!
"QUIZ FRIDAY on 10 Vocab terms! Study flashcards 10 mins each night."
Step 2: Log into Your Official Daily Planner
Transform messy clues into clear action items
Subject / Period
Exact Assignment & Action Item (What)
Pack in Backpack (With What)
Due Date (When)
1 Math (Mr. Ortiz)
Textbook practice
2 English (Mrs. Kim)
Reading & Journal
4 Science (Ms. Vance)
Lab Conclusion
6 History (Mr. Chen)
Upcoming Test / Review
ADHD Brain-Check: Did You Nail the Strategy? Highlighter Check
No Mystery Notes: Did you write page/problem numbers instead of just "Math hw"?
Locker Prep: Did you list the specific folder or book you must bring home tonight?
High Alert Star: Did you put a star ⭐ or purple highlight by Friday's History Quiz?
Self-Reflection: What is one board clue that would be easiest to forget if you didn't write it right away?
Task Chunking Slides Executive Functioning Skills for 6th Grade
Mission Middle School • Lesson 2
The Project Slicer:
How to Slay Giant Assignments
Turn big, scary middle school projects into bite-sized 15-minute micro-missions that your brain actually wants to do.
Crush Task Freeze
Beat the panic before it starts
Backward Planning
Start at the due date
Quick Dopamine
Celebrate every mini-win
ADHD Brain Secret
Why Big Projects Freeze Our Brains
The Giant Boulder
"Do History Report"
Due in 10 Days • 5 Pages
When an ADHD brain sees a huge project, it doesn't see steps. It sees an insurmountable wall of unknown effort. The brain interprets this as danger and freezes!
It's NOT laziness—it is executive function overload.
The Slicer Antidote
Step 1: Pick 1 Pharaoh 5 mins
Step 2: Find 3 facts online 15 mins
Step 3: Print 2 pictures 10 mins
By turning a boulder into pebbles, each task takes under 15 minutes . Your brain says: "Hey, I can do 10 minutes!"
Action creates motivation, not the other way around!
"You don't have to finish the project today. You only have to take the first bite!"
Strategy in Action
Backward Planning: Work Back from Due Date
Target Day (Friday)
DUE DATE! 🎯
Slip it into your folder. Absolutely NO panicking or last-minute scrambling!
Turn In with Pride
Minus 1 Day (Thursday)
Final Polish ✨
Check rubric boxes. Check spelling. Pack it straight into the backpack.
15 Mins Max
Minus 2 Days (Wednesday)
Assemble & Write ✍️
Draft the main paragraphs or glue pictures onto the tri-fold board.
25 Mins Focus
Minus 3 Days (Tuesday)
Gather Supplies 🔍
Pick topic, grab poster board, and bookmark 2 website articles.
15 Mins Kickoff
💡 Notice: Instead of working for 2 exhausting hours on Thursday night... You spent 15-20 calm minutes across 3 days!
Overcoming Inertia
The "Just 10 Minutes" Brain Trick
1
Set a Fun Timer
Put on a visual sand timer, Time Timer, or phone timer for exactly 10 minutes . Tell yourself:
Project Slicer Worksheet Project Slicer: The Micro-Step Blueprint
Level 2 • Dismantling Big Assignments
Name:
Date:
The Anti-Freeze Rule: A step is only ready when it takes under 20 minutes and starts with an action verb!
The Mountain 6th Grade Science Mission: "Desert Biome Poster & Summary"
Assigned Monday • Due next Monday • Needs: 3 animal facts, 1 food web diagram, 3 printed photos, and a 1-page written summary.
Panic Level: HIGH Unless we slice it!
Backward Plan: Turn the Mountain into 4 Micro-Steps
Work backwards from Sunday night
1 Micro-Step 1: Kickoff & Research (Tuesday)
Target Time: 15 mins
Write the exact bite-sized task (e.g., "Look up 3 desert animals and bookmark 2 photos"):
2 Micro-Step 2: Diagram & Draft (Wednesday)
Target Time: 20 mins
Write the exact bite-sized task (e.g., "Sketch food web in pencil and write 4 bullet points"):
3 Micro-Step 3: Poster Assembly (Thursday)
Target Time: 20 mins
Write the exact bite-sized task (e.g., "Glue photos and title letters onto poster"):
4 Micro-Step 4: The 10-Minute Polish & Pack (Sunday)
Target Time: 10 mins
Write the final check and pack step (e.g., "Check rubric, write name, put directly into backpack"):
ADHD Brain Fuel: Dopamine & Support Strategy Motivation Engine
My 5-Minute Micro-Reward:
What fun treat or break will you enjoy after completing a 15-min step?
My Body Double / Helper:
Who will sit near you or check in when you tackle the first 10 minutes?
Planner Transfer: Have you logged these 4 dates onto your weekly planner calendar?
Yes, logged!
Weekly Routine Slides Executive Functioning Skills for 6th Grade
Mission Middle School • Lesson 3
Lock in the Routine:
Put Your Planner on Autopilot
The best planner in the world only works if you open it! Learn how "habit stacking" makes checking your planner automatic and effortless.
Habit Stacking
Attach to things you already do
3 Daily Checkpoints
Morning, Locker & Evening
Sunday Reset
10 minutes to conquer the week
The Habit Stacking Superpower
Never Rely on Pure Willpower
❌ The "I'll Try to Remember" Plan
"I'll remember to check my planner at home tonight."
With ADHD, intentions without cues vanish! You get home, smell dinner, pet the dog, check your phone, and the planner stays zipped in your bag all night.
Outcome: Forgotten homework discovered at 7:30 AM 😱
✅ The Habit Stacking Formula
"AFTER I [Existing Habit], I WILL [Check Planner]."
• After I sit at my desk in Homeroom, I open my planner.
• After I open my locker at 3:00 PM, I glance at my packing list.
• After I take my shoes off at home, I place my planner on my desk.
Outcome: Zero brainpower needed—it's automatic! 🎉
"Anchor the new habit to an old habit you already do every single day."
Daily Rhythm
The 3 Daily Planner Checkpoints
1
8:00 AM • Homeroom
Morning Launchpad
Open planner on your desk. Glance at today's schedule. Are there any tests today? Any homework due first period?
⏱️ Takes: 60 Seconds
2
3:00 PM • Locker Run
Locker Pitstop
Hold your planner in hand while looking into your locker. Match each task to its textbook or folder before zipping your backpack!
⏱️ Takes: 2 Minutes
3
4:30 PM • Study Desk
Evening Landing
Put planner open right next to keyboard or homework sheet. Check off each box as you finish. Put finished work directly into backpack!
⏱️ Takes: 1 Minute
Total daily planner check-in time: Under 4 minutes combined! Massive peace of mind all evening.
Weekly System
The 10-Minute Sunday Reset
STEP 1
Clear the Deck
Empty old crumpled papers and candy wrappers out of your backpack. Reset your pencil pouch.
Habit Anchor Tracker The Habit Anchor Tracker
Level 3 • Routine Mastery & Fail-Safe Card
Name:
Week of:
The Habit Loop: Three 60-second check-ins each day keep your backpack packed and your evenings stress-free!
5-Day Habit Challenge: Check the Box Each Day
Goal: 12+ checkmarks this week
Daily Anchor Point
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Weekly Win
1 Morning Launchpad (Homeroom)
Open planner on desk & preview day
No surprises
2 Locker Pitstop (3:00 PM)
Match books to tasks before leaving
All gear home
3 Evening Landing (Desk)
Check off finished items & stage bag
Calm evening
Cut Out & Tape Inside Your Planner Cover!
Emergency Lifeline Card
The 30-Second Locker Checklist:
Q1: Did I pack the textbook/binder for every starred ⭐ homework item?
Q2: Is my device or Chromebook going home to charge?
Q3: Is my planner itself safely inside my main backpack pocket?
My Homework Buddy Contacts:
Buddy 1:
Phone/Email:
Buddy 2:
Class Portal:
Sunday Reset Habit Contract:
"Every Sunday at (time), I will take 10 minutes to reset my bag and preview my week."
Signed by Me: