Goal Setting in the Classroom: A Lifelong Skill for Children
A ready-to-teach SEL Unit for Teachers to Use in the Classroom
For educators, the August — October back-to-school timeframe marks the New Year for classrooms. Like the flurry around January 1, teachers can be found reassessing their positions, making new short-term and long-term goals, and trying to put new action plans into place to jumpstart their school’s New Year on the right foot.
It is no coincidence that Classroom Champions SEL Foundations Curriculum starts off the school year with a unit on Goal Setting. The four weekly 30-minute lessons spiral to develop and build life skills around goal setting. Goal setting demands dreaming big, setting intentional steps, as well as thoughtful reflection. It is a cyclical process that involves focus and risk-taking too. And goal setting empowers kids — who often have decisions made for them — by giving them agency to learn how dedication and hard work result in progress. Goal setting is a practice, and practice can lead to habit, which then can become a lifelong mindset.
Why is Goal Setting Important in the Classroom?
- Goals can help incite action and behaviors.
- Goals can channel focus.
- Goals can encourage progress.
- Goals can promote mastery.
With social and emotional learning, teachers strive to model that these skills are lifelong pursuits, and aren’t just learned or achieved in school. The real world provides a daily stage for practicing SEL, so many teachers try to model SEL skill sets as they teach by weaving themes like teamwork, perseverance, and leadership throughout their curriculum all year long (see Classroom Champions K-8 scope and sequence).
Goal Setting from an Olympic Athlete:
Check out this brand new Mindful Minute video about goal setting from one of our volunteer athlete mentors, U.S. Olympian Rosie Brennan. She shares a really clever strategy she refers to as “WOOP”:
What are the SMART goals?
As this school year kicks off, do consider how you can inspire your students to set SMART goals, both short and long-term, and revisit them throughout the year as they embark on their personalized learning journey.
Writing SMART goals can help. SMART goals are:
Specific
- Students need to clarify the who, what, when, and where of their goal. Have a discussion about using words that are specific vs. those that are ambiguous.
Measurable
- Students need to be able to know when they have reached their goal or if they are making progress toward it.
Attainable/Actionable
- Work with students to help them understand that goals must also be things students can take action on now.
Relevant
- Students should be able to explain the personal and academic benefits. Talk with them about qualities that make a goal worthwhile.
Timely
- Every goal should have a timeframe, or there is no sense of urgency. “Someday” will not work to achieve your goals.
And as you set your own goals for this school year, don’t forget these words from the great Shel Silverstein:
Download Goal Setting Questions Stems to Spark Discussions:
Download the Goal Setting Toolkit!
Download 20+ pages of resources to support Goal Setting in your classroom.
