Setting Goals for the New School Year
A new school year is an opportunity for improvement and growth.
Setting goals is an effective strategy to set yourself up for a successful year. This is also a process that involves determining what you want to achieve this school year and creating a map of how you are going to achieve these goals throughout the school year.
This is an important technique for students to implement as it encourages them to problem-solve and think critically about the process. Being able to hold yourself accountable and overcome difficulties are key skills needed to achieve your goals.
An effective and popular goal-setting technique is the SMART Goal Method.
The following are the SMART Goal Method’s five areas of focus:
Specific:
When setting a goal, it is important to not be vague. Focus on the details and try to be as specific as possible.
Measurable:
To determine if/when your goal has been achieved, you can measure your success by tracking your progress. For example, if your goal is to improve a grade, you can outline a specific numerical number that you hope to achieve.
Attainable:
When determining your goal, it is important to ensure that the goal can be realistically achieved given your timeline and available resources.
Relevant:
It is important to choose a goal that is relevant to your personal strengths and areas needing improvement. It is important to consider such factors and be honest with yourself.
Time-Bound:
Set a specific deadline (a date) for when your goal should be attained, and timeline for specific milestones. This helps you measure your progress and hold yourself accountable.
Let’s try out the SMART Goal Method with an example!
In this example, the goal is to improve our math grades in the upcoming school year. How can we plan out this goal to ensure successful results?
Specific:
I want to improve my math grade in the new Functions class I am taking this semester. I will do this by improving my in-class engagement (participation and asking questions) and study habits (completing homework promptly and allowing myself adequate time to prepare for quizzes and tests) outside of the classroom.
Measure:
My goal is to increase my grade by 8%. I hope to improve last year’s final math grade of 77% to a higher final grade of 85%.
Attainable:
My previous math grade had seen an improvement of 5% from the year before by simply completing all of my assigned homework on time. Following this pattern, it is realistic that further improvements to my learning habits can lead to a higher final grade.
Relevant:
This goal will help me improve my study habits and introduce me to additional learning practices that will also help me with my current and future classes.
Time-Bound:
The deadline that I have set to complete this goal is by the end of the semester. I will hold myself accountable by carefully considering the grades and feedback I receive on all of my assessments (assignments, quizzes, tests) throughout the term. This will allow me to further assess if my learning and study habits need to be changed and consequently re-evaluate how these changes can be made for an improved grade on the next assessment and so forth.
© Sabrina Morgan