Learning how to set reasonable and attainable goals is a valuable lesson for students of all ages. Preschoolers can set simple goals with an adult. Their goals can be drawn instead of written and they can be accountable for achieving or not achieving their goals. All students should set goals periodically throughout the year and be continually checking on the success of their goals or eliminating goals that are no longer applicable to their life.
Goal Setting Lesson Plan
Divide the blackboard into two sections. In big letters write the word ‘Wish’ on one side of the board, and ‘Goal’ on the other side of the blackboards.
Ask students to write one personal goal and wish under the appropriate columns on the blackboard.
After all students have written their wishes and goals have an open discussion on the differences and similarities of a goal and wish. How many wishes on the board can become goals and how many goals are actual wishes? As well, you can begin a discussion on the difference between a failure and failing on a goal. There are assortments of questions that will develop with this open forum.
Four Steps to Writing a Goal
1. Write the goal
Students write one personal goal and write why this goal is important to them. In addition, have students write what the goal looks likes when it is finished. As the students are writing you can read their goals but do not tell them the goal is unattainable or a silly goal. Students will be given the tools in this lesson to make the goal attainable if it is truly their goal.
2. Outline the Specific Steps to Achieve the Goal
Outline all the steps to achieve the goal. Each step needs to be broken down into small manageable tasks that the student is able to accomplish. If the student wants to be a professional skateboarder, they must begin with practicing on a daily basis; learn specific tricks, experiment, take lessons, read books on professional skateboarders. Their steps cannot simple play video games of professional skateboarder and experiment the moves on the weekend. They need to look into all the aspects of a professional skateboarder.
3. Chart the Obstacles for Achieving the Goal
Students will chart the blocks on attaining their goal and write how they will deal with each issue. The student with the professional skateboarding goal, may not have the finances for lessons, they must problem solve how to get the money or other ways of learning how to skateboard. The student may take out movies and books from the local library or begin to do additional chores in the home or begin to save money from their birthday. This part is excellent because often we do not think of the obstacles in achieving our goals.
4. Time Frame
Students should write an approximate deadline for achieving the goal. As well, they can chart the deadlines for the small goals to achieve their ultimate goal. It is best for students and adults to see small successes otherwise they will become frustrated and walk away from the goal. The professional skateboarder has years of practice and hard work, it is ideal that he/she has smaller goals that are attainable in weeks, and months.
Debbie DeSpirt - Debbie DeSpirt is an Elementary Teacher for the York Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada. Her post secondary education ...
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