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!
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!