Do you set goals for yourself at the start of a new school year? How about setting resolutions for the New Year? I’m sure you do in some way or another even if you don’t formally write them down. You have your own way of keeping track of things you want to accomplish. Our students also have dreams! And you their teacher can help guide them! What’s goal setting look like in the classroom? Well, setting goals with students can be done individually in student conferences or with all students whole class.
I have used goal setting with students as young as six years old. Witnessing how excited they are to make goals and achieve them is very rewarding! Start goal setting at the beginning of the school year, grading period, or quarter. And once you start, continue to use the same goal-setting system and process throughout.
This blog post is for teachers like you looking for ways to help your students set reading and writing goals during your reading block!
(1) Goal Setting Conferences
It all begins with the goal-setting conference! Setting goals with students helps them focus on areas they would like to work on or improve. It helps them take the ideas they have in their mind and put them on paper. Once the goal is on paper students can begin to take action. Helping students set one or two goals during your reading block focusing on reading and writing is more powerful than creating many goals. They should make one reading goal, one writing goal, and an action step for each goal.
For individual goal-setting conferences, meet with each student for no longer than 5 minutes. Aim to meet with about 4 or 5 students a day during your reading block. This should take you no more than a week and a half to conference with each student. The key to being able to do this in a timely manner is to have your conference forms ready! And what are the other students doing while you are conferences with one student individually? The rest of the class can read silently, work independently, or work at centers.
Here Are Some Example Goals and Action Steps
Reading
Goal: I will read for 30 minutes each day.
Action Step: I will put my book by my bed to read at bedtime.
Goal: I want to read a variety of books.
Action Step: This quarter I will read books from 3 different genres (fiction, mystery, and biography).
Writing
Goal: I will end each of my sentences with punctuation.
Action Step: I will reread my writing and make sure I have punctuation at the end of my sentences.
Goal: I want to add interesting words to my writing.
Action Step: I will use a thesaurus when I write.
(2) Tracking Goals When Goal Setting
Students need to track their goals to help them stay on track. Tracking goals can be very motivating! Here are three ways students can track their goals.
(1) Punch cards – Students poke a hole in a punch card each time they complete an action step toward their goals. Once they have a completed punch card, they can get a reward, perhaps a prize from the prize box, free time, or a sit with a friend pass. Then students continue to receive a new punch card to continue to track their progress.
(2) Paper Chains- Students can add a paper chain link each time they complete an action step toward their goals. This allows them to see the progress they are making by increasing the length of the paper chain.
(3) Coloring – Students color in an item each time they complete an action step.
(3) Checking In
Throughout the quarter have students read over their goals and action steps. It’s important for them to check-in and reflect on their goals. If students do not interact with their goals often, they can easily forget about them! Lastly, have students keep their goal-setting paper with action steps in a folder or use a goal setting bookmark that they can refer to often.
Have students read over their goals and action steps each week preferably on a Monday. Do this consistently to help refresh their memory of what they are working toward in reading and writing. This could be done before a reading or writing mini-lesson.
Halfway through the quarter, grading period, or allotted time frame, I recommend having students reflect on their goals and progress. You can do this whole class. Walk around the classroom and give students feedback about their progress. However, students should primarily decide what’s working with each of their goals. If students see a need for change, they can make adjustments.
Goal Setting Conference Steps
- Students create a reading and writing goal with an action step for each goal.
- Choose a set timeframe.
- Students track goals.
4. Weekly goal setting review time for students.
- Students reflect on goals midway through their goal setting time frame.
6. Celebrate at the end of the quarter, grading period, or timeframe!
(4) Celebrate
Celebrate once your class has come to the end of the quarter, grading period, or time frame. No matter how much progress was made, all students need to celebrate what they’ve accomplished. Rewards don’t have to be something elaborate, it could be a sticker, extra recess time, or a treat. The key to goal setting with your students is to stay consistent in whatever system you put in place. I have created a product that follows this goal-setting system that I talked about in this blog post. It was made to be used quarterly with students. Seasonal themes for autumn/ fall, winter, spring, and summer are included in this product. The product can be purchased here in my store.
