Turn goals into a plan
Help students translate refined learning goals into specific work they can start, track, and finish.
Guide
Routine #2 — Plan Guide
A practical guide for helping students turn refined learning goals into a clear sprint plan with visible work, roles, and next steps.
Best for
- Classroom
- Learning Sprints
- Goal Setting
- Student Ownership
- Visible Learning
Use During
- Plan
- Refine
- Check-In
What it helps with
Make the next steps visible
Clarify tasks, priorities, roles, supports, and checkpoints before the sprint begins.
Build ownership with structure
Give students enough structure to plan responsibly while still practicing choice and collaboration.
Preview the guide
When to use it
- After students have refined the learning focus.
- Before launching a new Learning Sprint.
- When teams need to clarify tasks, roles, and priorities.
- When students are ready for more ownership but still need planning structure.
- When a project or inquiry cycle needs a visible starting plan.
How it works
Start with the refined focus.
Review the current learning goal, project outcome, or deliverable before planning tasks.
Decide what will be done this sprint.
Choose the work that fits the time, readiness, and purpose of the sprint.
Break the work into visible steps.
Identify tasks, checkpoints, supports, and evidence of progress.
Clarify roles and collaboration.
Decide who is doing what, where help is needed, and how the team will coordinate.
Commit to the plan.
Move the work into the Learning Canvas, backlog, or team board so the sprint can begin with shared direction.
Why the Plan routine works
Student ownership does not mean asking students to figure everything out alone. The Plan routine gives students a clear structure for turning goals into visible work. It helps the class move from “we know what matters” to “we know what we are going to do next.” That structure lowers confusion, makes support needs easier to see, and gives teachers more room to coach instead of chase every step.
Skills & Alignment
This resource supports planning, communication, self-management, collaboration, and reflection. These are suggested connections, not a formal standards alignment.
IB Learner Profile
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Reflective
IB Approaches to Learning
- Self-management skills
- Communication skills
- Social skills
- Thinking skills
21st Century Skills
- Plan
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
Inquiry Practices
- Plan
- Goal setting
- Questioning
- Reflection
- Evidence-informed improvement
What's included
- A downloadable Plan routine guide with prompts and facilitation support for helping students create a clear sprint plan.
Related resources
Ready to plan the sprint?
Download the free Plan guide and help students turn learning goals into visible work, clear next steps, and shared direction.
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