Setting Goals
by Carolyn Groff, Rutgers University
January usually is a time when we make resolutions in order to improve the quality of our lives. However, most resolutions are easily forgotten a few months later.
This occurs, perhaps, because resolutions involve changing a behavior immediately rather than gradually. Goals, on the other hand, allow us to accomplish an objective by working toward the desired outcome slowly and monitoring our progress along the way. The earlier children learn how to set goals for themselves, the more natural the process will become for them as they continue through school and careers. We can teach children to set goals both at home and at school.
Oral and Written Language: First, discuss with your students what it means "to set a goal." Combine the students' answers into a meaningful definition and post it on a bulletin board. Have each student brainstorm a personal list of goals he or she would like to achieve in school. Goals may pertain to academic and/or social activities. Each student should then select one goal from his or her list as the primary goal to be reached by June. Have the students write short essays about their goals, including why they chose those goals and how they plan to accomplish them (adjust the number of sentences in the essay to the needs of individual students). Display students' essays on the bulletin board.
Parent Involvement: Have each student interview a family member (parent, guardian, grandparent, or other caregiver) about a goal he or she set and achieved while attending school. It might be helpful to make up a list of questions as a class and send a copy home with each student prior to the interview. Have the child write about what was learned from the family member/caregiver. After conducting the interview, invite parents to talk to the class about goals they have achieved or are in the process of reaching.
Highlights Magazine: Look in such children's magazines as Highlights for Children to find biographies in which the person achieved a goal he or she set. Discuss how many people have overcome major hardships or obstacles in order to reach their goals.
Reading: As a class, set goals for reading a certain number of books each month. Each student should keep a record of the books he or she reads. At the end of each month, have the class count the number of books read by each individual to see if the goal was attained.
Character Building: Discuss the possibility that some goals will not be reached on the first attempt, but that it is important not to give up. The effort that a person puts into the process of achieving a goal is just as important as reaching the goal itself.