Setting New Year’s resolutions with my students.
One goal of mine this school year has been to center learning around student reflections and student set goals. Therefore, it only makes sense to help my students set new years resolution goals.
I wanted to take New Year’s Resolution goal setting one step further with my students this year. Every year people make New Year’s Resolutions. My students are aware of the term but really don’t understand the process or what it is. If they do understand they are often vague or unattainable goals.
For example, I will get all A’s.
Some students are already getting all A’s so this goal isn’t really pushing them. Other students are just looking for a goal to write down and know, this one sounds good. When I conference with them later and ask them how they will reach this goal, it is usually a lot of blank stares or to study more.
I created a goal-setting sheet that I will have my students complete when we return to school in January. To start I will get their juices and memories flowing by reflecting on last year: What was your favorite memory? What’s a goal you accomplished? What are big events that happened?
Next is the goal setting, now that they have had time to reflect.
I want to help my students be good goal setters, to think about something they truly want to achieve. SMART goals, we’ve all heard of them. I’m sure we’ve all rolled our eyes when thinking about them for ourselves. But to help students fully understand goal setting and how to reach those goals to feel accomplishment I think SMART goals are important. You don’t necessarily need to use the term SMART goals but help your students ask the following questions.
What is your goal?
Why is this important to you?
How long will it take to reach your goal?
How will you know once you’ve reached your goal? (measurable)
What are some steps, or actions you will need to take towards this goal?
On the sheet that I created I leave a space for students to reflect on the above questions, comparing it to carry-ons when going on a trip. To go along with our “traveling into next year” theme.
Here are some examples of goals your students may choose, they may not necessarily be on the topic of school and that is ok!
-I will complete my nighttime routine on my own without parent reminders 5 out of 7 nights a week.
-I will get _ hours of sleep each night by going to bed at a reasonable time for 4 out of 5 school nights.
-I will have a pencil with me for all classes for 5 straight days.
-When given important papers I will place them in my organizational system at school.
Students will not be able to get to such detailed goals on their own. I know it will probably take me the entire month of January to find time to conference with each of my 100 students. By taking the time to do this, more meaning is given to students and will continue to build relationships.
I look forward to checking in with my students throughout the year to see how they are progressing towards their New Years’ goals. I left a space on the back of their goal-setting papers for check-ins. To jot down notes or changes they may need to make throughout the year.
Disclaimer: I know there may be some students who don’t want to share their goals or who have more secret goals they are working on. I would just then practice making a pretend one with them while we conference so they have the skills to write their own more personal goal at home.
I would love to hear your ideas as well in the comments.
