SMARTER Goals 6th Grade SMART Goals Microsoft, 2011

Review: SMART Goals The acronym SMART can stand for different things. Listen carefully to this video. What does SMART stand for? How is this the same or different than the meaning we learned last week? Click the movie icon to go to the youtube link Before moving on to the SMART goals review, discuss differences between the movie and what was learned last week.

Review: SMART Goals Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timely SMART Goals are: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timely Review the acronym “SMART” with students Discuss: What was different in the video? R stood for realistic instead of relevant This is common, but it means the same as achievable, so is repetitious Discuss: What was wrong with Justin’s goal? Why wasn’t it a SMART goal? Microsoft, 2011 Adapted from Doran, 1981

SMART Goal Example My goal: I will graduate from medical school in 14 years. Microsoft, 2011

Objectives Today’s objectives are to: Review what we learned about setting SMART goals Learn strategies for achieving your goals Learn how to make goals SMARTER

Pre-Test What is the third step in goal setting after you have set your goals? What does the “E” stand for in the acronym “SMARTER” and what is a question you should ask yourself when you do this? What is one strategy you can use to persist in meeting your goal?

Becoming a Goal Getter Setting goals is only the first step in achieving your dreams. It’s not enough to set a goal and forget about it! Step 3 is to develop an action plan. Hand out the goal getters Guide to Goal Setting

Step 3: Make an Action Plan For each short-term SMART goal you’ve written: Brainstorm everything you’ll need to do to reach your goal. Cross out any ideas that don’t seem useful and combine those that are similar. Determine a logical order for the things that you will need to do to reach your goal. Set deadlines for each action you need to take to meet your goal. Determine who you may need to help you reach your goal and share your goal with them.

Action Plan - Example My Short-term SMART goal is to improve my science vocabulary this semester. I know that building my science vocabulary will help me to do well in science now and will help me to prepare for all of the science classes I have to take in the future in order to be ready for medical school Brainstorm - What steps can I take to reach my goal? Brainstorm on the board or overhead, writing down students ideas. Remember, in brainstorming, all ideas are good ideas. Work with students to

Action Plan - Example Which ideas don’t seem useful or realistic? Which ideas are repetitive and can be combined? In which order should I take these steps? Set deadlines for each action you need to take to meet your goal. What tools or resources do I need to accomplish these steps? Who can help me take these steps and reach this goal? Discuss the above questions with students and model on the board. Rank order the steps on the board by numbering them in the order you may try to accomplish them. List resources and people that can help you with the tasks.

Your Turn Choose one short-term SMART goal To see your SMART goals, Log in to Naviance Click on the “My Planner” tab Demonstrate. Then, click on the “Goals” tab

Your Turn On your own paper, brainstorm - What steps can I take to reach my goal? Select the steps you will take and put them in order. Set deadlines for each action you need to take to meet your goal. Determine what and who you may need to help you reach your goal.

Next Steps in Naviance Once you’ve developed a plan, put your plan in Naviance. In Naviance, click on the goal you’ve selected. Then click, “Define your next step” Type in the first step you will take to meet your goal and when you plan to complete that step and the “update”

Your Next Steps To add more steps, click on “Define your next step” Add a comment about what you need to complete the step and who can help you by clicking on “add comment” or the thought bubble next to the to-do.

Keeping Track of To-Dos To keep track of your to-dos, you can view them through your goals tab or click on the To-Do List to see all of your upcoming tasks by deadline or by goal.

Monitor Your Progress Monitor the completion of your to-dos by checking the box next to the task when you’ve completed it.

Review: Goal Setting Steps Step 1: You’ve defined your dreams Step 2: You’ve written your SMART goals Step 3: You’ve developed a plan for meeting your goals Now – you need some strategies for putting your plan in action and persisting

Step 4: Put Your Plan in Action! Use the time and resources that are available Give yourself an award for meeting a small step toward achieving your ultimate goal Recruit a friend or adult to be you goal coach. Ask them for help in getting started. Make time! You may have to give up something else. Use a planner and schedule in time for working on your goal. Use the Naviance To-Do list or make your own and cross off the tasks you complete. You have your goal set and your plan and timeline for getting there, now it’s time to get started! Sometimes starting is the hardest part and procrastination may occur. Don’t worry – follow these steps to overcome procrastination: Talk through each of the strategies. How many of you get distracted by not having the best resources at the time? Ex. My internet isn’t fast enough right now, I only have a pencil and I need a pen, I want colored notecards instead of black and white. Don’t let these little things hold you back! Use what you have. How can you reward yourself for little steps? Ex. You can play video games for 10 minutes if you finish reading your science chapter. You can watch a TV show after you’ve made your flashcards. You can ride your bike for 30 minutes after you study for your quiz.

Step 5: Don’t Give Up! Ideas for persisting: Check-in with yourself and your goal. Think back to the original goal and why you set it. Is it still something you want to accomplish? What is stopping you? Do the steps you set up for reaching the goal still make sense? Do you need to add in more steps? Do you need to adjust the timeline? If you’re having trouble reaching your goal, ask for help! Take control where you can. Focus on being positive. If things don’t turn out like you expected, focus on what you learned in the process. Appreciate what you have accomplished. Learn from mistakes

Step 6: Making Goals SMARTER E = Evaluate Evaluate your progress regularly. Did you complete your to-dos? Are you making progress toward your goal? Did you meet your goal? If yes, how? What helped you reach your goal? Did you put in your full effort? If no, why not? What kept you from reaching your goal? What can you do differently? Explain that we will return to the goals regularly in class and they can do so on their own to evaluate their progress and revise their goals as necessary.

Step 5: Making Goals SMARTER R = Revise Revise your plan or goals as needed. Are your goals the right goals? If you accomplished your goals, write new ones. If you didn’t accomplish your goal, consider if you need to revise your goal or your plan. Is there another step you need to take before you can reach your goal? Is your goal achievable and relevant? Is there someone who can help you? Are there resources you need that you don’t have? Are there skills or knowledge you need to gain before you can accomplish your goal?

Post-Test What is the third step in goal setting after you have set your goals? What does the “E” stand for in the acronym “SMARTER” and what is a question you should ask yourself when you do this? What is one strategy you can use to persist in meeting your goal? Instruct students to clear off their desks or the area around their computer (put away their notes).

Review 7 Steps in the goal setting process: Step 1: Define your dreams Step 2: Write your SMART goals Step 3: Develop an action plan Step 4: Put Your Plan in Action Step 5: Don’t Give Up Step 6: Make your goals SMARTER – Evaluate and Revise Step 7: Reward Yourself for Your Progress Provide answers to the post-test questions after everyone has taken it. Discuss: What are some of the SMART goals you set for 6th grade?

Review Discuss: What are some strategies for persisting? SMARTER stands for: Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely, Evaluate, Revise Discuss: What are some strategies for persisting?

References What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go for It! A Guide for Teens by Beverly Bachel, 2001 Doran, G. T. (1981). There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and objectives. Management Review, 70(11), 35-36. Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/