Mindprint Toolbox

Search Results

Please wait...

Break Tasks into "Must Do" vs "Can Do"

Tags

Study Skills & Tools Social-Emotional Learning All Ages Strategy

Skills

Anxiety Flexible Thinking Organization Working Memory Attention Processing Speed

Break Tasks into "Must Do" vs "Can Do"

If your student has difficulty with prioritization, task management or gets easily overwhelmed

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Teach students to break task lists into "must do" and "can do" categories, so they know they can accomplish the most important items.
  2. Direct Instruction: When you break down multi-step assignments into a list of steps, you can consider what you absolutely need to get done and what can wait. This helps you get started and helps work feel more manageable.
  3. Class Activity: Work through 1 or 2 example assignments as a group. Together break the assignment into task steps and consider what are "must do" and "can do" items. Give another assignment that students can use for independent practice using the checklist on the next slide.

*print* Student Activity: Make A "must Do" List

  1. Read the assignment instructions. Do I fully understand what to do?
  2. Write a list of the steps to complete the assignment
  3. Review my list and highlight the absolute "must do" items on the list so I can do those first
  4. If this is a multi-day assignment, plan how much time I will spend each day
  5. Start with the most interesting task(s) on my highlighted items
  6. If I feel stuck, move to another highlighted task or ask for help
  7. Check off items as I complete them
  8. If I have time after I finish the highlighted items, go back and work on any remaining items

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

This is a helpful strategy for students with slower processing speed or attention or feel anxious about finishing. By breaking up tasks into essential and non-essential items, students can work carefully and still make clear progress. This strategy works equally well for students who have challenges with organization or making decisions. Working on "must do" items first, helps them see what is most important and get working without taking time to deliberate. The "can do" list provides opportunity to develop their decision-making skills after essential work is complete.