As we return Back to School, one of the most impactful strategies we can employ to set our students up for success is guiding them in setting their own goals. Author and speaker Bill Price says, “Goals produce focus. Without a goal, there is no reason to focus on anything. Think of a goal as a target.” Goals help students to focus on the target – what they want to achieve. Writing their own goals helps them take ownership. “This isn’t the goal my teacher wants for me; this is the goal that I want for me.” In the beginning of the year when I announce to my students that we are going to write goals, they aren’t sure of what goal they want to set. It’s fine to give them ideas, but ultimately they need to set something they personally want to achieve in order to stay motivated. Helping our students write S.M.A.R.T. goals will help them write goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time- based.
What are S.M.A.R.T. Goals?
If we simply tell our students, “write a goal,” They might come up with something like: I will get good grades. Now, I will get good grades doesn’t give them enough information to know when they’ve achieved it. What does it look like to achieve the goal? First of all, what are “good grades”? To one student good grades might mean all A’s, while to another it might mean C’s and above. The first thing a student needs to be is specific. What specifically is meant by “good grades”?
Below is an outline of each component of S.M.A.R.T. goals.
Specific: Goals should be clear and specific, answering the questions: What do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important? Who is involved? Where is it located? Which resources or limits are involved?
- Example: Instead of “I want to improve my reading,” a specific goal would be “I want to read one book per month to improve my comprehension and vocabulary.”
Measurable: Goals need to be measurable so that students can track their progress and stay motivated. This involves concrete criteria for measuring progress.
- Example: “I want to increase my math test scores by 10% over the next quarter” provides a clear metric to gauge success.
Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable, considering the student’s current abilities and resources. Setting challenging yet reachable goals keeps students engaged without becoming overwhelmed.
- Example: “I will complete 20 minutes of math practice every day” is achievable with a dedicated routine.
Relevant: Goals should matter to the student and align with their broader objectives. Ensuring that a goal is relevant helps maintain motivation and focus.
- Example: A relevant goal for a student who wants to improve in science might be “I will participate in the school’s science club to deepen my understanding of the subject.”
Time-bound: Every goal needs a target date to focus on and something to work towards. This time frame creates a sense of urgency and helps prevent procrastination.
- Example: “I will finish my first book by the end of September” provides a clear deadline to work towards.
Monitoring and Supporting Progress
Setting goals is just the beginning. If students aren’t regularly reminded of their goal and considering their progress toward that goal, they might forget about it. Check-ins are a way to make sure students continue to stay focused. Also, it’s good to have them self-evaluate and determine if adjustments need to be made or if they are right on track. Check-ins can be made every two weeks, twice a quarter, or however frequent you deem necessary for your group of students. Visual representations of their progress can be motivating. For example, if their goal is to read 10 books a quarter, having the students write the books they read on a chart will show how many they’ve read and how many they have left to read.
Starting the school year with goal setting is a powerful way to engage students, boost their motivation, and foster a sense of ownership over their learning. By introducing them to the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework and regularly monitoring their progress, we can help them develop crucial skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond. As teachers, our role is to guide, support, and inspire our students to reach their full potential, one goal at a time.
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