Setting SMART goals for the School Year
It’s finally here, the start of the new school year. If you’ve been following the advice in our blogs, then hopefully you spent June analyzing what worked and what didn’t over the last school year. In July, you thought about how to choose an executive function coach (if you don’t already have one). And in August, you spent some time setting up a dedicated homework space. Now that September is here, let’s set some goals for success in the coming school year.
What are SMART Goals?
Those of you who have an IEP should already be familiar with SMART goals. The acronym stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. The concept is not limited to drafting IEP goals – SMART goals can be utilized for school, for the workplace, and even for personal growth. Think of it as strategic planning with a concrete measurement of success. We can start by taking each element individually.
Specific Goals
This is where your June analysis comes in handy. Don’t worry if you didn’t do that yet – you can take time now to think back on last year. What do you wish went better? Why do you think it didn’t?
From there, craft a specific goal for this year. It’s not enough to say that you want to do better in math. Look at last year’s grade (let’s say it was a 78). What would be a success this year? Better than a 78. Does that mean 80 or above? Does it mean 90? Set a specific standard, and you’ve accomplished step one.
Measurable Goals
How is success measured? You’ve decided that you want to achieve a grade of 80-90 this year in math. You can say that the ultimate success of your goal is measured by your end grade. But like everything else we do in school, let’s look at this in smaller chunks. If you are going to make that grade, you will need to achieve better grades on tests and homework assignments. So, part of the goal might be to turn in all homework assignments on time in order to achieve the optimal grade and aim for a score of 80 or higher on each test.
Achievable Goals
Now the question becomes, is this achievable? Because if it’s pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking, you’re actually setting yourself up for failure, not for achieving your goals. So, let’s go back to the original specifics. Can you reasonably expect to go from a C last year to an A this year? Maybe you can, if the reason for your C was something in your control, like not turning in assignments on time or lack of studying or other preparation. Or, if you really did try your best and the result was a 78, maybe 80 is a more achievable goal for this year and your strategies will include seeking help more often or changing up study habits. All of this is personal to you. Be honest with yourself without judging. The focus here is on what is realistically attainable. Hint: that’s not perfection.
Relevant Goals
This is pretty self-explanatory. The math goal we’ve set out is certainly relevant to your school success. Setting a goal to get the highest score in the class on your final exam is probably not relevant – your success should be measured against your own progress.
Time-Bound Goals
Your math goal should be achievable in a set timeframe. For optimal success, this doesn’t necessarily mean looking at the final grade. Rather, you can take each semester or quarter into consideration and revisit the overall goal from there. That way, if your first quarter grade is a 75, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed to meet your goal. If you set out to make sure that your second quarter grade is 85 or above, then you’re still on track for that final grade of 80 or better.
Use this blueprint to approach the school year in a thoughtful and yes, smart, manner. Get ready for a new year of success!