Habits for Success: Your Goal-Getting Toolkit! Script for Substitutes

(Important Note for Substitute Teacher: This script is designed to be read aloud as a guide. Please encourage student participation and discussion where prompted. Material links are for your reference only; student materials are physical handouts.)

(Slide 1: Habits for Success: Your Goal-Getting Toolkit!)

"Hello, future goal-getters and habit-builders! Today, we're going on an exciting adventure to talk about something super important for your future: setting goals and building habits that will help you achieve them! Think of it as building your own special toolkit for success!"

(Slide 2: What Do You Dream About?)

"Let's start by thinking big! What are some amazing things you really hope to achieve someday? Maybe something in school, like reading a whole chapter book by yourself? Or perhaps something with your friends or family, like learning a new game together? What about something just for you, like getting really good at drawing animals? Take a moment to think, and feel free to share if you'd like! What small actions could help you get there?"

(Pause for student responses, encouraging a few to share their dreams. Guide them gently if they struggle to think of ideas, focusing on things they enjoy or want to improve. Briefly introduce the idea of steps or actions.)

(Slide 3: What's a Goal? What's a Habit?)

"Fantastic ideas! Now, all those amazing things you just thought about? Those are like dreams with a plan! We call them goals. A goal is something you want to achieve or work towards. It's like having a target to aim for.

But how do we hit that target? That's where habits come in! A habit is a small action you do often, almost without thinking, that helps you get closer to your goal. For example, if your goal is to be a great reader, a habit might be reading for 10 minutes every night before bed."

(Slide 4: Types of Goals & Helpful Habits)

"Goals come in different 'flavors,' just like ice cream, and so do the habits that help us! We're going to talk about three main kinds:

• Personal Goals: These are about YOU and your own growth. Things like learning to ride your bike without training wheels (habit: practice balancing for 5 minutes each day), or learning a new magic trick (habit: practice the trick for 2 minutes when you wake up).
• Social Goals: These are about your relationships with others. Maybe it's making a new friend (habit: say hello to a new person at recess), or being a better listener (habit: make eye contact when someone is talking).
• Academic Goals: These are about your learning and schoolwork. This could be improving your math facts (habit: practice flashcards for 5 minutes after school), or finishing all your homework on time (habit: start homework right after snack).

Can anyone think of another example for a personal, social, or academic goal, and a small habit that could help them achieve it?"

(Encourage a few student examples for each category, specifically asking for a related habit. Provide additional examples if needed: Personal goal - learn to draw a specific animal, habit - draw for 5 minutes daily; Social goal - help a classmate, habit - offer to share supplies; Academic goal - write neater, habit - trace letters carefully each day.)

(Slide 5: Why Habits are Goal Superpowers!)

"So, why bother with goals and habits? It's like having a superpower for your adventure! Building good habits helps you:

• Have a clear direction: You know exactly what you're working towards.
• Stay motivated: It gives you a reason to keep trying, even when things are tough.
• Make progress every day: Small habits add up to big achievements!
• Celebrate your achievements! When you reach a goal because of your habits, it feels amazing!

Think about a time you worked hard for something and achieved it by doing small things often. How did that feel?"

(Allow a brief moment for students to reflect or share if comfortable.)

(Slide 6: Your Turn: My Habit & Goal Grid!)

"Now it's your turn to be a habit-powered goal-setting superstar! I'm going to hand out a worksheet called My Habit & Goal Grid Worksheet. On this sheet, you'll pick one personal, one social, and one academic goal that you want to work on. Then, for each goal, write down one small habit you can start doing regularly to help you reach it. Remember, habits don't have to be huge; even small, consistent steps lead to big achievements! I'll be walking around if you need any help or ideas."

(Distribute the My Habit & Goal Grid Worksheet. Circulate around the room, offering guidance and encouragement. Remind students to think of one small, actionable habit for each goal.)

(Slide 7: You're a Habit-Powered Goal Getter!)

"Wow, you're all doing an incredible job thinking about your goals and the powerful habits that will help you achieve them! We've just started our journey as Habit-Powered Goal Getters. It's important to keep thinking about your goals and those small, consistent habits you can take to achieve them. Great work today, everyone!"

(Transition to distributing the Habits for Success Cool Down.)

My Habit & Goal Grid Worksheet

Name: __________________________ Date: ____________

We all have things we want to achieve! A goal is something you want to work towards. A habit is a small action you do often to help reach that goal. Let's think about some goals you have for yourself and the habits that can help you achieve them!

My Personal Goal

(Something about YOU and your own growth, like learning a new skill or trying something new.)

My Personal Goal is:

One small habit I can start to help me reach my Personal Goal is:

My Social Goal

(Something about your friends, family, or how you interact with others, like being a good friend or helping someone out.)

My Social Goal is:

One small habit I can start to help me reach my Social Goal is:

My Academic Goal

(Something about your learning at school, like getting better at reading, understanding math, or finishing your homework.)

My Academic Goal is:

One small habit I can start to help me reach my Academic Goal is:

Habits for Success Cool Down

Name: __________________________ Date: ____________

Circle the best answer for each question:

1. A habit is:
   a) A big, difficult task
   b) A small action you do often
   c) Something you do only once

2. Why are habits helpful for reaching your goals?
   a) They make goals disappear
   b) They give you a secret shortcut
   c) They help you make steady progress

3. Write one small habit you could start this week to help you with any goal.
   
   
   
   

4. What is one new thing you learned about goals or habits today?
   
   
   
   

Habits for Success Cool Down Answer Key

1. A habit is:
   b) A small action you do often

   Thought Process: The lesson defines a habit as a small, repeated action. Options a and c contradict this definition.

2. Why are habits helpful for reaching your goals?
   c) They help you make steady progress

   Thought Process: The lesson emphasized that habits provide consistent progress towards goals. Options a and b are incorrect; habits help achieve goals, not make them disappear or provide shortcuts that avoid effort.

3. Write one small habit you could start this week to help you with any goal.
   *Possible answers will vary but should describe a small, actionable, repeatable behavior. Examples: reading for 5 minutes, practicing math facts for 5 minutes, helping a family member, saying