Helping Students Meet Their Goals

Do you have goals for the new school year?

That was the question we asked students using our Choices360 site last week – and the results were impressive! A full 80 percent of students said they were starting the academic year with some goals in mind.

Of course, many students also start of the school year with shiny school supplies, only to find those new binders and highlighters buried at the bottom of their locker six weeks later. How can educators keep students’ goals from meeting the same fate?

Research has shown that writing down your goals actually makes a difference in achieving them. And you’ve probably heard that making specific goals that are easily measured will also increase your odds of success. Think about the difference between vowing to “get in the best shape of my life” on January 1 and “Go to the gym three times a week.” Which goal sounds more realistic? When students are thinking about their future, they need to make precise goals. Making career and education plans is often overwhelming – so many choices! – so a bit of guidance can help them get started.

That’s why we’ve added a new goal-setting activity for students to our Transitions sites. It’s called My Goals and Action Plans and students can find by clicking on the Your Portfolio tab, then Your Profile, then the Looking Ahead link.  The activity aligns with SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goal-setting guidelines, and it is simple and easy to use – a clear-cut way to set some goals and reach them!