Setting Goals for the New Year
A hundred years ago, when I was a new and naive teacher, I had this great idea for an after New Year’s activity. I would have my students set goals! “What a great opportunity for my students to take ownership of their learning,” I thought. Eureka! Was I brilliant or what?
The day of our return back from holiday break, I put my brilliant lesson idea into action. I activated my students’ prior knowledge. I talked about New Year’s Resolutions. I brought in some cultural relevance with 12 grapes. I even shared my goal of becoming more organized. Then …. I set them to work. Now, “write down a goal”, I said. “Share it with a partner”, I said.
Well, you experienced teachers out there can predict the outcome of this brilliant plan. I got goals like, “I will get better grades” and “I will study more.” I thought, “fantastic,” and we moved on, never to re-visit goals again.
As time progressed, I reflected on the value of this lesson. One day and done is a waste of my students’ time. How could I make this lesson meaningful? How could I make my students reflect? How could I have them become accountable?
My Setting Goals Unit is the culmination of reflection and change to practice. Students create goals which are realistic and measurable. They keep track of their progress throughout the rest of the year.
