Priorities, Goals, and the Perfect PB&J

What belongs on the “do it now” list, and what can wait? Middle School students got up and moved to find out.

In this month’s Executive Functioning Lab, students sorted tasks into what needs attention now, what can wait until soon, and what belongs on a later list. In the Priority Challenge and the Human Priority Line, they had to make a decision, explain their reasoning, and notice that priorities change depending on the situation.

Then they made it personal. Each student picked a meaningful goal, either personal or school-related, and used an Action Ladder to break it into smaller steps. The focus wasn’t just naming the goal. It was finding a realistic first action and deciding how they’ll know they’re making progress. Partners checked each other’s plans: is this specific? Is it manageable?

Learning to be clear

That same thinking showed up in Language Arts, where students are finishing their “How-To” writing. They’ve written instructions for everything from opening a door and washing a dog to cooking ribs and making chicken sandwiches, and they’ve learned that directions have to be precise enough for someone else to follow. The classic peanut-butter-and-jelly challenge video proved the point, showing how a simple task goes hilariously wrong when the steps are unclear.

What’s next

Through the rest of November, Advocates will help students revisit their goals: checking first steps, spotting evidence of progress and obstacles, and deciding whether to keep going or adjust. The aim is to move students from guided practice toward choosing, planning, following through, and reflecting on their own.