Get the new year jumpstarted with goal setting. Teach students about growth mindset and have them create a goal! I have many ideas to choose from!
January is the time we ramp things up in first grade. Students make the most growth this time of the year. It’s as if they marinated all fall and after Winter Break -POOF! all things come together. I love this time of the year because there are so many light bulb moments. It’s one of my favorite parts of first grade. That is why I really like for students to take accountability for their learning and make lofty goals. They will meet them.
I begin by explaining to students that they will choose a goal for themselves, to help them focus on an area in which they want to improve or grow. We brainstorm things we are good at and areas we aren’t. I remind my students it’s not because they aren’t good at it. It’s because they spend less time doing things they feel they are not so good at. Just like learning to walk or use the toilet, we practiced and practiced until we got it right. And we can do the same things with school subjects. This usually gets firsties excited and ready to make some goals.
I have several resources to help you implement goal setting. I’m sure one will be just right for your class!
New Years Growth Mindset Goal Banners are a differentiated way to make goals. Before beginning, we read a growth mindset book such as Keep Going! by Mayra Diaz. This book is all about persistence, something all learners need. Have students brainstorm goals and then choose the one they think is best. They can make it into a goal banner. This resource has 7 different goal banners so you can differentiate for the varying needs in your classroom. There are 7 decorative banners to hang around the bulletin board as well as a title #goalgetters. As you can see, it not only serves as a reminder for students but makes a gorgeous bulleting board.
My Growth Mindset Flip Books are probably the easiest goals to implement in first grade because they give students areas to make goals in. This resource also has growth mindset sayings and posters to introduce the concept. This resource also includes a craft topper.
New Years Goals Flip Books are a fun way to get students to reflect on what they want to learn, do better ad improve upon. The flip books are differentiated. One has room for drawings, the next has room for a drawing and writing, and one just has writing lines. The topper with 3D horns and hats is also included in this resource as well as a mini book about possible goals for the new year.
Be sure to set up a bulletin board to hang students’ New Years’ goals. Showcasing students’ goals will serve as encouragement and reminders to students. You can revisit, reflect and revise goals and have students create new goals once their goals are met.
Hopefully I have convinced you to try setting goals with your first graders. Let me know what you think!
