"Academic Goal Setting"
Preparation for the week of September 5th
"AN UNWRITTEN WANT IS A WISH, A DREAM, A NEVER HAPPEN. THE DAY YOU PUT YOUR GOAL IN WRITING IS THE DAY IT BECOMES A COMMITMENT THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. ARE YOU READY?" - TOM HOPKINS
1. Preparation
Why do we set goals???
Because goal setting works!!! Have you ever sat down on a Sunday evening in front of a pile homework and asked yourself "What happened to the weekend?" Or have you ever started to study for an test and kicked yourself for not reviewing your notes earlier? When done properly, goal setting helps you do those day to day activities that you know you should do to be successful but don't always get done. More generally, goal setting helps you to identify what you want to accomplish and find a way to do it.
So what do YOU want to accomplish in the next month, semester, or year? Do you have a plan to get things done or are you going through the motions? If you are going through the motions, STOP. You need to evaluate what you are doing with an advisor, tutor, or friend. Your time is too valuable to let it pass away thoughtlessly!
If you know what you want to accomplish but do not have a plan to get it done, review the information below. There is a skill to setting goals EFFECTIVELY. The information below will assist you in being more purposeful in using your time and guide you in successfully accomplishing what you want to do.
3 Qualities of Effective Goals
Before you begin your goal setting process it is important to know what qualities your goals should embody. Effective goals have three important qualities. They are realistic, measurable, and reviewed.
- A goal must be REALISTIC. Challenging yourself is an important part of goal setting. You want to aim high; however, you also need to be realistic. For example, I will study at least 3 hours EVERY day may be pushing it. Are you honestly going to study on Friday after a long week? Be honest with yourself. Maybe your goal is study at least 3 hours a day Sunday through Thursday.
- A goal must be MEASURABLE. It should have concrete facts. You should be able to answer very specifically, when and how you will know you attained your goal. For example, rather than Go to class, a goal may be Go to all my classes this semester. See the difference? Rather than Study hard, a goal may be “Always re-copy my class notes within 24 hours of my last class. “
- Finally, a goal must be REVIEWED. Share your goals with friends and family members who care about your success. Pick one of these persons who will hold you accountable in addition to yourself. In the meantime, remind yourself regularly of the goals you have set for yourself. You can write your goals in your calendar, on a mirror, or a desk-wherever you will see them often. Check your progress regularly. Ask your friend or family member to check on your progress. They might even offer you some additional incentive for accomplishing your goal!
Steps Toward Setting Effective Goals
1. Set Goals-Identify what is important to you. What do you want to accomplish this semester? Whether it be better grades, higher GPA, more class participation, or improved attendance, you decide what areas of your college life need improvement. |
||||||||||||||
2. Identify possible strategies or objectives to reach each goal. Make a list of what you feel are the best and most effective ways of reaching the goals you have already identified. If attaining a 3.50 GPA for the semester is your goal, think of ways to do this. Here is an example:
|
||||||||||||||
3. Select the best strategies. Now that you have made a list of several ways to achieve your goal, recognize which of these strategies will work best for you. Perhaps if you work better on your own, study groups may not be the best strategy for you. Or if you are good about attending class, that may not be an area on which you need to focus. |
||||||||||||||
4. Outline specific plans to accomplish each strategy. Once you have narrowed down your strategy list, you can begin to make very detailed and specific plans to accomplish each strategy and ultimately reach your goal. If you decide to study 3 hours 5 days a week, identify when you can study each day and than be sure to monitor yourself. Some study time might be spent working on a weekly basis with a tutor in a specified subject area. |
Click to print preparation information
Preparation "To Do List:"
- Print the Mentor Reminders page. Keep a copy with you in your mentor folder.
- Pring the Preparation information (if you would like to have it with you when you meet your sixth graders).
- Print the prompt for Wednesday.
- Complete the First Semester Goal Chart.
- Watch the video about academic goal setting.