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Goal Setting Genius

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Sajjal Arif

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

My SMART Goals Workshop Lesson Plan

Students will learn to define and apply the SMART goal-setting framework to their academic and career aspirations, enabling them to create clear, actionable, and trackable personal goals.

Effective goal setting provides direction and motivation. This lesson will equip students with a powerful tool to take control of their future, reduce procrastination, and increase their chances of success in school and beyond.

Audience

10th Grade Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application of the SMART goal framework.

Materials

Achieving Your Dreams Slides, SMART Goal Planner Worksheet, and My Next Step Exit Ticket

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Achieving Your Dreams Slides, SMART Goal Planner Worksheet, and My Next Step Exit Ticket to ensure familiarity with the content and flow.

Step 1

Introduction: What Are Your Dreams?

5 minutes

Begin with a brief discussion or question to activate prior knowledge about goals. Use the Achieving Your Dreams Slides to introduce the concept of dreams and aspirations. Ask students to share one dream they have for their future (academic, career, personal). Emphasize that big dreams need a plan.

Step 2

Introducing SMART Goals

10 minutes

Present the SMART goal framework using the Achieving Your Dreams Slides.

  • Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
  • Measurable: How will you know when you've reached it?
  • Achievable: Is it realistic and attainable?
  • Relevant: Does it matter to you and align with your values?
  • Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal by?

    Go through examples of non-SMART vs. SMART goals.

Step 3

Guided Practice: SMART Goal Planner

10 minutes

Distribute the SMART Goal Planner Worksheet. Guide the student through the process of taking one of their previously mentioned dreams/aspirations and turning it into a SMART goal. Provide support and feedback as they work through each section of the worksheet.

Step 4

Wrap-up & Reflection

5 minutes

Have the student share their SMART goal (if comfortable) and briefly discuss any challenges they faced or insights they gained. Distribute the My Next Step Exit Ticket for individual reflection and a final check for understanding.

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Slide Deck

What Are Your Dreams?

Think big!

  • What do you hope to achieve in school?
  • What kind of career do you imagine for yourself?
  • What personal goals do you have for the future?

Let's share one dream you have!

Welcome students and engage them by asking about their big dreams. This slide sets the stage for thinking about future aspirations before diving into goal-setting specifics.

Dreams Need a Plan: SMART Goals

Big dreams are exciting, but how do we turn them into reality?

We need to set SMART Goals!

Introduce the idea that dreams are great, but goals help us achieve them. Transition into the SMART acronym.

S - Specific

What exactly do you want to achieve?

  • Non-Specific: "I want to do better in school."
  • Specific: "I want to improve my math grade from a C to a B by the end of the semester."

Explain 'Specific' with clear examples. Encourage students to think about precision.

M - Measurable

How will you know when you've reached it?

  • Non-Measurable: "I want to be happier."
  • Measurable: "I will participate in a school club for 1 hour each week to meet new people and feel more connected."

Explain 'Measurable' and how progress can be tracked.

A - Achievable

Is it realistic and attainable?

  • Unachievable: "I will learn fluent Japanese in one week with no prior experience."
  • Achievable: "I will dedicate 30 minutes daily to learning basic Japanese phrases and grammar using an online app."

Explain 'Achievable' and the importance of realism.

R - Relevant

Does it matter to you and align with your values?

  • Irrelevant: "I will learn to play the tuba because my friend thinks it's cool, even though I dislike music."
  • Relevant: "I will research three different career paths related to environmental science because I am passionate about protecting our planet."

Explain 'Relevant' and why the goal should matter to the student.

T - Time-Bound

When will you achieve this goal by?

  • Not Time-Bound: "I will save money."
  • Time-Bound: "I will save $500 for a new laptop by December 31st by putting aside $50 from my allowance each week."

Explain 'Time-bound' and the need for a deadline.

Putting It All Together

Remember, SMART goals are:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound

Now, let's practice making your dreams SMART!

Summarize the SMART framework and introduce the worksheet for practice.

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Worksheet

SMART Goal Planner Worksheet

Your Big Dream/Aspiration:
What is something you really want to achieve for your academic future, career, or personal growth?






Let's make it a SMART Goal!

S - Specific

What exactly do you want to achieve? Be precise! (Who, what, when, where, why?)






M - Measurable

How will you measure your progress? How will you know when you've reached your goal?






A - Achievable

Is this goal realistic and attainable given your resources and abilities? What steps will you take to achieve it?






R - Relevant

Is this goal important to you? Does it align with your values and long-term aspirations?






T - Time-Bound

When will you achieve this goal? Set a realistic deadline.






My SMART Goal Statement:
Combine all your SMART elements into one clear goal statement.











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Cool Down

My Next Step Exit Ticket

Name:


  1. What is one new thing you learned about goal setting today?






  2. Write down your SMART goal that you started to develop today.











  3. What is ONE immediate action you can take in the next 24 hours to work towards this goal?






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