the_road_to_organizational_success.pptx |
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Setting Goals for the School Year
For the past five years, I have given one of my favorite getting-to-know-you assignments. I ask students to write a letter of introduction telling me about him/her self. As I read these letters, I learn about you and your expectations for the school year. Lots of lofty goals, but how are you going to achieve them? As teachers, we are asked to create SMART goals. Let’s do a similar one for you. Specific – Is it to obtain the highest average in your favorite subject? How about keeping your focus in language arts - your least favorite subject? Either way, your goals should be simple and specific enough so that it always stays in the forefront of your thoughts. Keep it even simpler by setting just a few goals. Too many goals will overwhelm and frustrate you. Measurable – Stay on target by determining how you are going to measure your progress. Teachers give continuous feedback, and progress reports (every three weeks) are a great way to measure your progress in every class. Don’t wait for your report card! Follow-up with your teachers and be prepared to make up and redo assignments. Achievable – Are you focused on doing your best in something that comes naturally to you? Or, is it improving your performance in a more difficult subject? Goals should be challenging, yet able to be reached. If your goal is achieved too quickly, then set new, more challenging ones, and be prepared to work toward achieving it. Realistic – Are your goals realistic to your ability? If you performed poorly in your worst subject last year, your new goal should be to do progressively better. Likewise, if you consider reading equal to punishment, then achieving 25 books is not realistic. Assess your strengths and weaknesses and set goals that are realistic to achieving them. Timely – Placing a realistic time frame on your goal is important to achieving it. For example, achieving 25 books by the end of the year is a timely goal for the average reader. Passing a failing class by the end of the next quarter is both realistic and timely. Waiting until the last minute to turn in less than your best work is not timely. In addition, there are long and short –term goals. Are your goals achievable within a short period of time, or do your simple and specific goals require long-term planning? Think about it! You are finally done with elementary school! One more year and it would have been ugly for all concerned. Congratulations, as you move on to the next biggest phase of your life - Middle School!
Here at Githens, we love introducing sixth graders to this world called middle school. It's fun, funny, and fantastic. The person you entered as will not be the same person leaving, but rather someone more mature due to a plethora of experiences, both academic and social. The purpose of my blogs will be to help you navigate middle school - all the ins and outs of this interesting world. Some blogs will be my "soap box," advising you through tough yet typical times, celebrating your uniqueness, and yes, many will be academic based. I hope to make blogging an extension of our classroom relationship. Below are two (there are more) non-academic observations I have about the social life in middle school: Social Life & Friendships - Friends are a very important part of your school day. This past year, there were lots of hugging upon seeing each other. While some raised eye-brows, most were the innocent, "I'm-so-happy-to-see-you,- even-though-we-talked-all-day-yesterday,-and-on Facebook,-and-you-texted-me-on-the-way-to- school, hugs. Then you huddle together at the lockers, exchange wardrobe notes talk about others, and require an act of supreme being to separate and get to class. You can recall the details about each others clothes worn last week, yet cannot restate what was just read! Social Life & Talking - It seems that each year middle school students talk more than the year before. The ability to socialize with old and new friends is at the top of your list of things to do. Observing students interactions with each other during these moments are interesting. They are listening, focused and responsive. Of course! The subject matter is of high-interest! I want a piece of student engagement, so I create high-interest activities. Guess what? They still get off task and need to be redirected. When not able to verbally speak, you pass notes and attempt to text. Hey, aren't you going to lunch in five mintues??? The on-going battle of the talkers! |
About Ms. GriffithEighteen years teaching in both NY and NC Categories |