Tips for Setting Goals for Students

Working with students as a teacher, counselor, or other professional is the hardest and most rewarding job you get to do. Students of any age push your limits, then amaze you with what they have learned. A great way to keep students moving forward is goal setting. Students in special education and regular classrooms benefit from setting goals.

DO: Involve the student in setting goals

Goals are related to improving state testing scores, classroom behavior, buy essays completion, or any other educational aspect. The student needs to be involved in the goal setting from the start. Share whatever data you have with the student. Ask the student about his or her own goals. Work together to create goals that the student is able to reach with teacher guidance.

DO: Create a visual way to track goal progress

Students of any age are motivated by seeing their own progress. Charts, graphs, logs, periodical conferences, and progress reports allow a child to see that hard work does pay off over time. Younger kids enjoy stickers and stamps to showcase their progress towards a goal, while older kids are perhaps more motivated by a contest or incentive plan with the rewards on display as a reminder. Goals that are written down are more concrete and likely to be reached.

DON'T: Expect students to reach goals on their own

The most success in the classroom happens in the space where the teacher guides the student through needing strong teacher support to being independent. Students need not be expected to work toward their goals without teacher scaffolding.

DON'T: Set goals too far into the future

Goals that are not achieved until the end of the school year or beyond do little to motivate. Students need frequent goal checkpoints to see and celebrate their success and learn to bounce back from set backs. Setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals is a good way to keep progress moving forward.

Goals in education vary from student to student, but reaching those goals requires a few simple steps. Students need to be invested in their goals from the beginning. Writing down goals and visually tracking progress is essential. Teachers must bridge the gap between what a student is unable to do on their own to independent work. Finally, shorter goal intervals are important. You are able to help a student set and reach goals for success.