Happy 2014! New beginnings, a fresh start‚ and what’s not to love? Every year I INSIST that I will read more, run farther, and eat healthier. Without any further thought, the first week of January, I run a few miles more, finally finish the book I started last summer, and successfully avoid eating anything processed. By February 1st I am usually rewarding the fact that I even went for a run with a bag of Cheetos. (Hey! I earned those!) Reading at this point involves my daughter’s favorite Fancy Nancy book and my son’s novel project, which in all honesty, we should have started weeks ago. The bottom line is that setting goals can’t be based solely on good intentions. The more we plan, the more successful we are.
But do students understand this? How many parents and teachers out there hear, I’ll do better next semester, or “I know I have to study harder, I promise I will next time.‚” Many of the students I work with, struggle to see the “big picture.” This year, help students set goals by teaching them how to be more SPECIFIC.
Instead of:
I will do better in school
Consider:
I will do better in science class by turning in my assignments on time, asking for help when I need it and using flashcards to study vocabulary for 15 minutes per day.
Instead of:
I will make sure I read the book for English class
Consider:
I will read 15 pages of the required reading book between 4:00 and 5:00 pm every school day until the book is finished. I will read in my room where it is quiet and I can concentrate. I will write any questions I have about what I am reading on a note card to show my teacher.
Have students write down their goals and keep them in a place where they will see them often. As the parent or teacher, set a date for yourself to check in with the child and discuss what is working and what may need to be changed.
