Goal Setting For Students

Life Tools for

School and for Life
Why Goals are Important?

Dream + Action Steps + Target Date = Goal

Goals provide direction, a sense of accomplishment and
they define your growth and development.

1. Roadmaps
2. Recipes

Why go through life without goals?

Goals are your roadmap

for a successful education and life.
Goal Setting 101
Clearly define the challenge facing you.
What issue, problem or desire
are you trying to change or achieve?

Examples of misguided challenge definitions:

Low grade in class – Teachers fault vs. lack of effort on your part?

“I’m Bored!” – Too much TV time vs. joining a club or organization.

Goal Setting 101

• It is very important to write down your Goal,

Action Steps and Target Date

• Use the positive, action-oriented words –

I can and I will in your goal statement and
with your action steps

• Read your goal every day

• Stretch your abilities

The Four Key Questions
Establish your goals by answering these questions:

1. Challenge Why do I want it?

Define the desire or challenge facing you.

2. Goal What do I want?

Write down the goal you want to achieve.

3. Action Steps How will I get it?

Your specific action plan to reach your goal.

4. Target Dates When do I want it?

The completion date to reach your goal.
Dreams vs. Goals
Goal Setting is like shooting an arrow.

You may want to hit the target, but

if you don’t take action – shooting the arrow –
you only have a dream.

The difference between a

dream and a goal is ACTION.
Belief
Activity: The “I can’t funeral”

• write down on a piece a paper everything you

can’t do.

• Next write a list of ‘I CAN’. Keep this in your

note book/journal.
Developing an Action Plan
• If you are not working to where you want
to be, you are AUTOMATICALLY
working to where you don’t want to be.

• Keep your most important values in mind

at all times when you are making LESS
important decisions.

• Don’t sacrifice what matters most for

something that doesn’t matter that much
to you. There are always trade-offs
What is an action plan?

• It makes the vision concrete.

• It shows how you will implement
strategies to attain your objectives.
Why develop an action plan?
• To lend credibility to your
organization.
• Don't overlook details.
• For feasibility.
• For efficiency.
• For accountability.
Tips for planning meetings

• Be inclusive.
• Create a safe, comfortable
environment.
• Prepare for possible conflict.
• Be efficient.
• Record what happens.
• Communicate the products of planning.
• Support and encourage group
Preparing an action plan
• Determine what people and sectors of the
community should be included.
• Convene a planning group.
• Develop an action plan with action steps for
all proposed changes.
• Review completed plan.
• Follow through.
• Keep everyone informed.
• Keep track of what (and how well) you've
done.
• Celebrate accomplishments.
Contents of the action plan

• What action or change will occur?

• Who will carry it out?
• By when (for how long)?
• What resources are needed?
• Communication (who should know
what?)
Ensuring member accountability

• Supportive phone calls.

• Reports on progress at meetings.
• Celebrate accomplishments.
Criteria for the action plan
The action plan should be:

• Complete
• Clear
• Current
www.TeachingMoments.com
Copyright Reserved
Build a bridge and get over it

• You will have challenges

• You will have roadblocks
• You can have excuses or success but not
both
There is very little difference between
mediocre and greatness.
• The boiling point is only 1 degree different
than very warm water.
– The difference is tremendous. Steam can
power many things.
• The difference between a race horse that
wins first place and a second place is
often fractions of a second.
There are three types of people
• Ones that make things happen
• Those that let it happen
• And the ones that don’t know what
happened.

What one are you going to be?

Practice exercise: Creating an action
plan for your group
• Prepare an action plan for your group.
• Report them to the group.
• Consider whether they meet the criteria.
• Revise based on feedback.