Happy New Year!
Imagine this, it’s early January, your students are about to return to school, the second semester is about to begin, and you are scrambling to find something for your kids to work on when they return. Trust me; I have been there! I always like to begin the second semester with my students writing out their goals to have a successful second half of the school year. By definition, goal setting “involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a person or group toward a goal.” What stands out to me about that definition is an action plan. Goal setting should not be something we write down and never refer back to. The goals we write down and that our students write down should be easily visible for them to refer to daily to make sure they are on track to accomplish them. So let’s get into my top 3 strategies to set goals in the New Year.
#1 Write Your Goals Out
Okay, I get it. You’ve heard this before many times. I completely understand, but writing your goals out has proven an effective strategy. There’s just something about putting your pencil or pen to paper and thinking out all of what you want to accomplish that gets your brain going! Honestly, it’s very motivating. But, don’t just write them out on a random piece of paper found around the house. Instead, use a template or notebook dedicated to your goal setting. This way, you know where to refer back to when tracking the progression of your goals throughout the month. Click here for a free template you can use personally or in your classroom with your students.
#2 Create an Action Plan
Now that you have written your goals out, it’s time to make a plan and put it into action. Soooo what does that mean? That means you need to determine the habits you need to form to accomplish those goals. If you have never run a mile nonstop in your life before, you will need to select the patterns you need to develop daily to accomplish that. Most people won’t just get up and run without building up to it. In this scenario, you will need to start walking, jogging, and building up to running. It’s the same with every other goal. If a student’s goal is to master their math facts by the end of the month, they will need to put together an action plan they can follow to accomplish this goal. The best part about this is that the STUDENT creates their own action goal. This gives them complete ownership of their actions. When students are in control of their action plans, they are more motivated to accomplish them, and as the teacher, you can refer back to what the student wrote down when they veer off their plan.
#3 Find an Accountability Partner
The introverted part of me screams as I type that, but honestly, having an accountability partner that you know, like, and trust is one of the best ways to help you accomplish your goals. You can use accountability partners in your classroom are to have students partner up in groups of 2 or 3 with people they choose. You, as the teacher, mustn’t select your student’s accountability partner because you want the students to be comfortable sharing their goals with their peers. Have the students check in once a month with their partners to ensure they are on track to accomplish their goals. This will be a time when students can share some achievements and challenges they’ve had with the goals they’ve set.
Goal setting doesn’t have to be boring! It can be an enjoyable activity to do with your class when done correctly. Let’s set some goals for the New Year!
