And, the new year is a great time to do it!
The new year is a great time to talk about goal setting with your students. We touch on this throughout the year, but we can really hone in on this during the new year. We want all want our students to be successful. We want our students to learn to set goals but, most importantly, give them concrete ways to achieve their goals. So often, goal setting is portrayed as a topic for older primary students, but I completely disagree! Goal-setting and growth mindset is a HUGE aspect of my classroom. And, that first week back to school after winter break is the perfect time to focus on goal setting and growth mindset just as many student’s parents do in the new year.
Goal setting allows students to reflect and revisit the past year and think about some of their previously set goals. We always set goals at the beginning of the year, and I use this time to pull out those goals as a reflection. This is an excellent opportunity to think about the various goals we have been working on and areas of improvement.
Reflection is one of the most critical aspects of setting goals in not only first grade, but all grades. It is so crucial for my students to reflect on the things they might be struggling with. Once we have reflected on what improvements they want to make, we can begin developing a goal-setting plan. To start our goal setting in the new year, I introduce New Year’s resolutions. This activity is a great way to get your students thinking about goals. And, why not try it out in the form of a craft.
This resource lets your students pick something they want to learn, try, and improve on. It encourages your students to improve, but it also motivates them to try something new. These are some of the questions I use with my students to get them thinking about goals they want to set.
What is something you struggled with this year?
What is something you want to learn more about?
What was something you learned this year?
What has been your favorite part of the year?
One of my personal favorite strategies for goal setting in 1st grade is to focus on a growth mindset during our morning meetings. We brainstorm and visit goals as a group by coming up with a list of things we could improve on. I love watching my students come together to help one another set goals.
When discussing growth mindset with my students, we learn that mistakes are part of learning, the importance of positive self-talk, the power of yet, and how to keep a growth, not a fixed mindset. When it comes to goal setting, it’s important to trickle in social and emotional lessons because many students can feel defeated or that they have failed when it comes to reflecting on previously set goals. We all fall short sometimes, and we don’t always meet our goals, but we learn, grow, and move forward. An essential reminder to give to our students. You can find a ton of great foundational ways to begin this within this bundle.
Is there ever a time we can’t use a book to teach the importance of something? Honestly, the amount of books we can use to teach about goal setting and growth mindset is never-ending! Raise your hand if you could talk to your students about something for days, but as soon as you read a book about it, they relate so much more. The characters and the story helps kids connect on such a more substantial level. Here are a few of my favorite books that help students build confidence, understand that making mistakes is ok, and trying new things might be scary, but it can be fun!
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
The most impactful strategy for goal setting in first grade is encouragement. We all have room to grow and improve. And, when we know there is someone in our corner rooting for us it motivates us and boosts us up. And, when I say encouragement, I also mean providing a bit of direction and maybe a bit of grounding, ha! Our students can often set BIG goals, and while we love their determination, we also want to ensure the goals they set are attainable. By helping our students focus their direction on realistic goals, we can help set them up for success. Remind your students that you are cheering them on, and celebrate the small steps toward their goals. It makes a big difference.
Make goal-setting fun through fun crafts and activities. I love using banners to have my students write and draw their goals and to display them throughout the classroom. We hang these up in the classroom, and it’s a great way to keep the goals at the forefront of their minds and be aware of the goals their peers have set. I love overhearing my kids talking to one another about their plans. I am on board for a fresh start in the new year which is why I focus so much on a growth mindset, and this bundle is filled with so many engaging activities for your students. I promise goal setting doesn’t have to be boring or tedious, and there are so many simple ways to include this in your classrooms to celebrate the new year!
Goal setting is so important for our students, and there are so many ways you can implement activities, lessons, and crafts into your day to help your students achieve their goals.
Want to read more about New Year’s Activities? Check out this blog post from last year and this one from a few years ago.
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