Set SMART Goals

In this lesson, students will think about personal and academic goals for the school year. They will learn to write these as SMART goals and identify actionable tasks they can complete to achieve them.

Engage

Teaching students to set personal goals begins with teaching them to believe in themselves.

Inspire students by sharing how others have overcome obstacles and achieved their goals. If students need a bit more prior knowledge, read a story about goal setting like Pogo Pig Learns About Goal Setting or Success Kids: Goal Setting: Roger's New Bike.

To help students begin their work from a place of confidence and success, have them reflect on things they have already accomplished. If students have trouble determining past accomplishments, work as a class to identify things they learned in previous grades.

Create

Have students create a list of academic and personal goals they would like to achieve this school year. For students to take pride in their effort and accomplishments, teach them how to set goals they can attain and that reaching goals requires action. Writing SMART goals can help.

SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable/actionable, relevant, and timely. Assign the goal-setting template to get students started.

SMART Goal Template

Work with your students to transform at least one of the items in their list into a SMART goal.

Share

Have students present their goals and ideas for achieving them to the rest of the class.

Then, print three copies of each student's goals. Students should keep one in their desk or binder to remind them of their goals and the steps they want to take to reach them. They should give one copy to you as a critical friend who will help remind them of their goals and the steps they said they would take to reach them. Students should also take one copy home to share with their families and support systems.

Resources

Bryan Sommer and Lindsay Nahmiache. Pogo Pig Learns About Goal Setting. ISBN: 1500312193

Roger Bush. Success Kids: Goal Setting: Roger's New Bike. ISBN: 1493625543

Parents Magazine: How to Teach Kids Perseverance and Goal-Setting