Goal+Setting

= = flat = = =**__Good Goal-Setting__**=


 * Purpose:** To teach students the principles of effective goal-setting and allow them to set achievable goals they can track over time.


 * Lesson:** Teach the principles of effective goal-setting, which is that good goals generally have the following three things in common:

1. Goal is specific //("do we know exactly what the goal is?")// 2. Goal is measurable //("how will we know whether or not you have met your goal?")// 3. Goal has a high probability of succeeding //("is it realistic that you can do this?")//

In group discussion, you can let students come up with examples of goals that would meet, and would violate, each principle until students are clear on what it means for a goal to be "specific, measurable, and have a high probability of success."

//Some examples of goals that do or do not meet each of these criteria://

//"Don't leave things to the last moment" (not specific)// //"Get my Math homework in on time this semester" (more specific)// //"Be nicer to my friends when I'm in a bad mood" (not measurable)// //"Do at least 3 good deeds each week and write each one down in a journal" (measurable)// //"Turn in all my homework on time this semester" (doesn't have a high probability of succeeding)// //"Turn my next 3 Spanish assignments in on time" (has a high probability of succeeding)//

Once all students are clear, have them set two goals: One that has to do with bettering themselves academically and one that has to do with bettering themselves as a person. You can use the worksheet below (both are the same worksheet, one as "pdf" and one as ".doc"), or you can construct your own.




 * Additional notes:**


 * Note that the worksheet walks students through three distinct phases: Once students have set each goal, they also need to identify a specific plan for meeting that goal, and they need to acknowledge the follow-through they need to commit to in order to realize that goal.


 * The Advisor should collect the sheets and hold onto them, to be revisited periodically. Tell students you will remind them in about 3 weeks of their goals, and will give them a chance to remember their goal and see how they're doing. After about 3 weeks, bring out the sheets and let students read/remember what they wrote and share how they're doing so far. You can do this again in another 3-4 weeks.


 * If you do the goal-setting but then don't come back to it every 3-4 weeks, you are not modeling follow-through for the students! Setting goals is only part of the battle -- you have to revisit the goals periodically, especially while it's still not too late for them to make adjustments and renew their commitment, if you want students to have a high probability of meeting the goals they set.