Smart Goals Script

Introduction (5 minutes)

(Slide 1: Goals: Aim High! Your New Year's Map to Success)

"Hello everyone! Welcome! I'm so excited to be here with you today as we kick off a new year. A new year always feels like a fresh start, right? A chance to try new things, learn more, and become even better versions of ourselves."

"To get us started, I want you to think for a moment: What's one thing you're excited to learn or do this new year? You can just think about it, or if you want to, you can turn and share with a partner next to you for about 30 seconds each."

(Pause for 1-2 minutes for students to think/share)

"Awesome! It sounds like you all have some really cool ideas already! Today, we're going to talk about how to make those exciting ideas into actual achievements by learning how to set awesome goals!"

What Are Goals? (Slide 2: What Are Goals?)

"So, what exactly is a goal? Well, a goal is simply something you want to achieve in the future. Think of it like a destination on a map. Without a destination, you might just wander around, but with one, you have a clear path."

"Goals are super important because they give us direction, help us focus our energy, and motivate us to work towards something. They can be big or small, something you want to do next week, or something you want to achieve by the end of the school year. Ultimately, they help us learn, grow, and achieve great things!"

Why Are Goals Important? (Slide 3: Why Are Goals Important?)

"So why are goals so important? Well, they give us direction, like a compass guiding us to where we want to go. They also give us motivation – that little push to keep working even when things get tough. When we set goals, we grow and learn new things, helping us become better versions of ourselves. And there's an amazing feeling of achievement when you finally reach something you've been working towards!"

Academic vs. Personal Goals (Slide 4: Academic vs. Personal Goals)

"When we talk about goals, they usually fall into two main categories: Academic Goals and Personal Goals."

"Academic Goals are all about your school and your learning. These are things you want to achieve in the classroom. Can anyone think of an example of an academic goal?"

(Pause for student responses. Guide them to examples like 'improve my math grade,' 'read one book per month,' 'finish homework on time.')

"Exactly! Great examples! Now, Personal Goals are about your life outside of school. They could be about your hobbies, your health, your character, or even how you interact with friends and family. What about some personal goal examples?"

(Pause for student responses. Guide them to examples like 'learn to play a new song on the guitar,' 'spend more time playing outside,' 'be a kinder sibling.')

"Awesome! So you can see, both types of goals are important for a well-rounded and happy life!"

Make Your Goals SMART! (Slide 5: Make Your Goals SMART!)

"Now, simply having a goal is a good start, but there's a secret to making your goals even more powerful and easier to achieve. We call it making your goals SMART!"

"SMART is an acronym, which means each letter stands for a word that helps us remember important parts of goal setting. Let's break it down."

S is for Specific (Slide 6: S is for Specific)

"The 'S' in SMART stands for Specific. This means your goal should be super clear and well-defined. Instead of saying, 'I want to do better in math,' a specific goal would be 'I want to improve my math grade from a B to an A by the end of the first semester.' See how much clearer that is? You know exactly what 'better' means."

M is for Measurable (Slide 7: M is for Measurable)

"Next is 'M' for Measurable. You need to be able to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal. If your goal is 'I want to read more,' how will you know if you've done it? A measurable goal would be 'I want to read one non-fiction book per month.' Now you can count how many books you read!"

A is for Achievable (Slide 8: A is for Achievable)

"'A' is for Achievable. Your goal should be realistic and attainable. It should challenge you, but it shouldn't be impossible. For example, 'I want to learn to fly by next week' isn't achievable for us. But 'I want to learn 10 new Spanish words each week to prepare for my trip' is challenging but definitely achievable!"

R is for Relevant (Slide 9: R is for Relevant)

"'R' stands for Relevant. Your goal should matter to you! It should align with what you want to achieve or who you want to become. If you don't care about knitting, 'I will knit a sweater for my dog' isn't very relevant, especially if you don't have a dog! But 'I will volunteer at the local animal shelter once a month because I love animals and want to help' is very relevant to your interests."

T is for Time-Bound (Slide 10: T is for Time-Bound)

"Finally, 'T' is for Time-Bound. This means your goal needs a deadline or a target date. Without a deadline, it's easy to keep putting things off. 'I will clean my room' might never happen. But 'I will completely organize my desk and closet by Saturday afternoon' gives you a clear target to work towards."

Your Turn! Set Your SMART Goals! (Slide 11: Your Turn! Set Your SMART Goals!)

"Alright, you've learned about Academic and Personal goals, and how to make them SMART! Now it's your chance to create your own awesome goals for the new year!"

"I'm going to hand out this My New Year's Goals Worksheet. We're going to work on setting one academic goal and one personal goal for yourselves. Remember to make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound."

(Distribute My New Year's Goals Worksheet. Walk around the room to assist students.)

"Take about 10 minutes to write down your goals on the worksheet. Don't worry if it's not perfect the first time, you can always revise. Think about what we just discussed for each part of SMART."

(After 10 minutes, gather attention.)

Share & Reflect (5 minutes)

(Slide 12: Review, Reflect, Achieve!)

"Wow, I see some really thoughtful goals being written down! Would a few volunteers like to share one of their goals – either an academic or a personal one – and tell us why it's a SMART goal? How does it fit the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound criteria?"

(Invite 2-3 students to share. Provide positive feedback and reinforce the SMART concepts.)

"Fantastic sharing! Thank you! Remember, setting goals is just the first step. The real magic happens when you work towards them. Keep your goals somewhere you'll see them, review them often, and don't be afraid to adjust them if you need to. And most importantly, celebrate every little step you take towards achieving them!"

"You've got this! Let's make it a great year! Thank you for participating today!"

My New Year's Goals Worksheet

Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

Part 1: My Academic Goal

Think about what you want to achieve in school this new year. Let's make it a SMART goal!

Remember, a SMART goal is:

• Specific: Clear and well-defined.
• Measurable: You can track your progress and know when you've reached it.
• Achievable: Realistic and possible for you to accomplish.
• Relevant: Important to you and aligns with what you want.
• Time-Bound: Has a clear deadline or target date.

My SMART Academic Goal:

(Write your complete SMART academic goal here, making sure it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)

Part 2: My Personal Goal

What is one thing you want to achieve outside of school this new year? Let's make it a SMART goal!

Remember, a SMART goal is:

• Specific: Clear and well-defined.
• Measurable: You can track your progress and know when you've reached it.
• Achievable: Realistic and possible for you to accomplish.
• Relevant: Important to you and aligns with what you want.
• Time-Bound: Has a clear deadline or target date.

My SMART Personal Goal:

(Write your complete SMART personal goal here, making sure it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)

My New Year's Goals Answer Key

This answer key provides example SMART goals. Students' answers will vary but should follow the SMART criteria.

Part 1: Example Academic Goal

My SMART Academic Goal:

I will improve my science grade from a B to an A in my current science class by the end of the second marking period by studying 30 minutes each evening and actively participating in class.

Thought Process for a SMART Academic Goal:

• S - Specific: The goal clearly states the subject (science), the current status (B grade), and the desired outcome (A grade). It also specifies actions to take (studying 30 minutes, active participation).
• M - Measurable: The student can track their grades on quizzes, tests, and projects in the school's online gradebook. The goal will be met when the average grade for the second marking period is an A.
• A - Achievable: This goal is challenging but within reach, as the student can actively work towards it by studying and participating. It's not an impossible leap.
• R - Relevant: This goal is important because it connects to the student's academic performance in a core subject and promotes a sense of achievement.
• T - Time-Bound: The goal has a clear deadline: the end of the second marking period, which makes it actionable and provides a target for completion.

Part 2: Example Personal Goal

My SMART Personal Goal:

I will learn to play two new songs on the guitar smoothly from start to finish without looking at the music sheet by the end of the school year by practicing 20 minutes every day.

Thought Process for a SMART Personal Goal:

• S - Specific: The goal specifies the instrument (guitar), the number of songs (two), and the desired proficiency (play smoothly from start to finish without music). It also mentions the action (practicing).
• M - Measurable: The student will know they reached their goal when they can play both songs without the music sheet. The daily practice time is also measurable.
• A - Achievable: Learning two songs by the end of the school year with daily practice is a realistic and attainable goal for a student.
• R - Relevant: This goal is personally relevant if the student has an interest in music and wants to develop a new skill.
• T - Time-Bound: The goal has a clear deadline: the end of the school year. The daily practice for 20 minutes also provides a time-bound action to reach the goal.