🎯 COACH THE STUDENT
🏫 STUDENT REALITY CHECK
⏱️ TIME TRADE-OFFS
Diagnose the problem
🔄 CATEGORY: What Would Happen If…?
100

Question:
A student says, “I always understand the directions, but I still don’t finish my work in class.”
What is one time management mistake they might be making, and one fix?

  • Mistake: Starting late / getting distracted

  • Fix: Start work immediately, set a timer, focus during work time


100

Question:
A student says, “I don’t have enough time in class.”
What is one realistic reason this might be happening?

  • Talking during work time

  • Not starting work right away

  • Getting distracted

  • Not listening to directions

100

Question:
You have 10 minutes left in class and two tasks:

  • Finish an important assignment

  • Help a friend with their work

Finish your own assignment first

100

Question:
A student says, “I’m always behind even when I try.”
What is one possible root problem?


  • Poor planning

  • Starting late

  • Being distracted

100

Question:
What would happen if students never used deadlines?

  • Work would be late

  • Less accountability

200

Question:
A student sets this goal:
“I will do all my homework every night.”
As a coach, what is one problem with this goal, and how would you improve it?


  • Problem: Not specific or measurable

  • Improvement: Add time, number, or deadline




200

Question:
A student works hard but still feels rushed every day.
What is one habit they might need to change to manage time better?

  • Start work sooner

  • Stop multitasking

  • Use a planner

  • Follow directions the first time

200

Question:
You start an assignment but realize it’s harder than expected.
Do you keep working or move on and come back later? Explain.

  • Keep working if it’s due soon

  • Move on if another task has a closer deadline

200

Question:
A student finishes work but often forgets to turn it in.
Is this more of a time management issue or an organization issue? Why?

Work is done, but not tracked or submitted

200

Question:
What would happen if a goal had no measurement?

  • You wouldn’t know if you succeeded

300

Question:
A student says, “I tried a SMART goal, but it didn’t work, so goals don’t help me.”
What would you say to coach them forward?

  • Goals sometimes need to be adjusted

  • The goal may have been unrealistic

  • Try a smaller or shorter goal

300

Question:
Why is it unrealistic to think you can “make up time later” during class?


  • Class time is limited

  • Once time is gone, it can’t be reused

  • Other tasks also need time

300

Question:
Why is spending too much time trying to make one assignment “perfect” a time-management problem?

  • Other work doesn’t get finished

  • Causes rushing later

  • Time is limited

300

Question:
A student sets good goals but never follows through.
What part of the process is missing?


  • Monitoring progress

  • Accountability

  • Planning steps

300

Question:
What would happen if a student always rushed at the end of class?


  • Lower-quality work

  • More mistakes

400

Question:
A student wastes time talking in class, then rushes and turns in incomplete work.
As the coach, what are two strategies you would recommend and why?

  • Strategy 1: Start work immediately → avoids rushing

  • Strategy 2: Save talking for after work → more focus

  • Strategy 3 (acceptable): Use a timer or checklist

400

Question:
How can poor time management affect more than just your grade?


  • Stress increases

  • Group members are affected

  • Teachers and classmates lose time

  • Less free time later

400

Question:
You finish early in class.
Is it better to relax or start your next assignment? Defend your choice.

Start next assignment
Why:

  • Reduces future workload

  • Prevents stress

✔ Relaxing acceptable if work is fully complete and expectations met

400

Question:
Why is “being busy” not the same as “using time well”?

  • Busy doesn’t mean productive

  • You can be busy without finishing important tasks

400

Question:
What would happen if students managed time well only in one class?


  • Some success, but not consistent

  • Stress in other classes

500

Question:
A student has three assignments due the same day and feels overwhelmed.
How would you coach them to use time management and SMART thinking to handle this?

  • Break work into smaller steps

  • Decide which task is most important first

  • Set mini-deadlines for each assignment

  • Use a planner or checklist

500

Question:
A student says, “I work better under pressure.”
Why might this be true sometimes, but not a good long-term plan?


  • Pressure can help focus short-term

  • Long-term rushing causes stress and mistakes

  • Not reliable or healthy

500

Question:
You have three assignments due tomorrow and limited time tonight.
How should you decide what to do first and why?


  • Start with the most important or longest task

  • Break tasks into steps

  • Set mini-deadlines

500

Question:
What is one sign that a student’s problem is planning, not effort?

  • They work hard but run out of time

  • They don’t break tasks into steps

500

Question:
What would happen over time if a student practiced good time management every day?

  • Better grades

  • Less stress

  • More free time

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