Students often struggle with setting and achieving goals, and as a teacher, I have tried numerous strategies over the years to help them in this area. Unfortunately, many of these attempts have failed due to the challenge of consistently finding time to prioritize goal-setting through conferences, reviews, and resets. However, this year, I decided to revisit the idea with a new approach in mind.
I wanted to create a simple and manageable goal-setting process that students and I could realistically integrate into our routine. The key criteria for this new strategy were that it had to be time-efficient, easy to follow, and provide students with a straightforward way to track their progress regularly.
To achieve this, I developed a one-page goal-setting sheet that students can use to set and monitor their goals. The sheet is divided into four sections, each serving a specific purpose in the goal-setting process.
In the first section, students are given the opportunity to reflect on their recent accomplishments and activities. They can circle one option that best describes their achievements or write in other accomplishments. Starting on a positive note is important for building motivation and confidence.
The second and third sections of the sheet focus on setting goals and tracking progress. Students are encouraged to set realistic goals for their performance based on their past results from weekly assessments. They complete this form during individual meetings with me, where we discuss their progress and set new goals for improvement.
The final section of the sheet is where students outline the specific actions they will take to achieve their goals. This is the most critical part of the goal-setting process, as it requires students to identify the changes they need to make in their study habits or approach to learning.
To implement this goal-setting process, I plan to meet individually with each student during one period of my class every month. During these meetings, students will review their goal-setting sheets, discuss their progress, and set new goals for the upcoming month. Meanwhile, student teachers, aides, and peer tutors will assist in managing the rest of the class.
Additionally, students will complete a brief “Weekly Check-In” via Google Forms every Monday to track their progress and reflect on their goals. They will also take a photo of their completed goal-setting sheet on their phones for reference. At the end of each month, students will meet with me again to review their progress and set new goals for the following month.
The initial meetings with students went well, and I am hopeful that this new goal-setting process will yield better results than my previous attempts. By providing students with a structured and manageable way to set and monitor their goals, I hope to empower them to take ownership of their learning and achieve success in their academic pursuits.