As students return to school after winter break goal setting can be a useful exercise in refocusing effort and attention during what can be a challenging transition.
The most effective goals are co-created with students. Co-created goals foster more of a sense of buy in and agency on the part of the student. Students are often told what they need to do so allowing them instead to take part in the goal setting process can go a long way towards increasing engagement.
Many teachers find that the SMART goal setting framework is among the most effective organizational structures to help guide students in this process. SMART stands for specific, measurable, actionable/attainable, realistic/relevant and time-bound.
- Specific- the goal is expressed in specific terms
- Measurable- the goal can be quantified or measured in some way
- Actionable/Attainable- the goal can be acted upon
- Realistic/Relevant- the goal relates to the class of focus and/or it is realistic that the student will be able to achieve it if they put in the work
- Time-bound- the goal has a time frame in order to help motivate action and focus effort
Before outlining their goals and finalizing them with you, students should take time to review the data that is available to them. When it comes to goals related to Knowre Math it can be helpful to use coins, stars, completion, or achievement values as the monitored metrics.
Here are a couple of examples of Knowre Math specific goals:
- Complete all of my Knowre Math assignments on time for the next four weeks.
- By the end of the month revisit all of the lessons I have completed so far and continue practicing them until I have earned 3 stars on each.
- Earn at least 80% on every Knowre Math lesson this quarter.
Goals, especially within an academic setting, should incorporate some amount of data. If students have a strong sense of where they are currently they will be better equipped to design goals to help them progress forward.
Want to dive into this further? Here are a few additional resources to help student support goal setting for math and beyond:
A Framework for Student Goal-Setting (Edutopia)- This article shares 8 categories for student goal setting.
Goal Setting for Students (We are Teachers)- Looking for books that will help younger students understand the concept of goals? This article includes many great suggestions.
Goal-setting practices that support a learning culture (Kappan Online)- References some of the research behind the practice of student goal setting and highlights why it can be so effective.
