Goals: Level Up! Script

Introduction & Hook (5 minutes)

(Teacher says while displaying Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Goals: Level Up!")

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Look at our first slide today: 'Goals: Level Up!' What does that phrase make you think of? When you hear 'level up,' what comes to mind? Maybe from a video game? Or something in real life?

(Pause for student responses, validate their ideas).

"Exactly! Leveling up means improving, getting better, reaching new heights. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about today: how to 'level up' in your own lives, especially here at school. We're going to talk about goals!"

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 2: "Today's Mission: Be a Goal-Setting Guru!")

"Today, our mission is to become goal-setting gurus! By the end of this lesson, you will understand why setting goals is super important, learn about a powerful method called SMART goals, and most importantly, set your own awesome SMART goals for areas like grades, attendance, and behavior. This isn't just about school; these are skills you'll use for the rest of your lives."

Why Even Bother With Goals? (5 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 3: "Why Even Bother With Goals?")

"So, why even bother with goals? Think about it. Why do athletes set goals? Why do artists set goals? Why do you, yourselves, sometimes set goals, even if you don't call them that?

(Pause for student responses, write key ideas on the board.)

"You've got it! Goals help us stay focused – they give us a target. They help us track progress – we can see how far we've come! They motivate ourselves – giving us that push to keep going. And ultimately, they help us achieve awesome things – making big dreams feel possible."

What are SMART Goals? (15 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 4: "Meet Your New Best Friend: SMART Goals!")

"Now, sometimes people say, 'I want to do better,' or 'I want to be happier.' Those are nice thoughts, but they're not really goals that you can work towards. To make goals truly powerful and achievable, we use something called SMART goals. This isn't just a clever name; it's an acronym where each letter stands for a key characteristic of an effective goal."

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 5: "S: Specific - Get Crystal Clear!")

"First up, S for Specific. A specific goal clearly states what you want to achieve. It answers the 5 Ws: Who, What, Where, When, Why. It's not vague. For example, 'Do better in math' is vague. What does 'better' mean? A specific goal would be, 'I will improve my math grade from a C to a B by studying 30 minutes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.' See the difference? It's clear what needs to happen."

"Can anyone give me an example of a non-specific goal, and then how we might make it more specific?


"

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 6: "M: Measurable - Can You Track It?")

"Next, M for Measurable. This means you need a way to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal. How will you know if you're actually improving? This often involves numbers or clear indicators. If your goal is 'Come to school more,' how do you measure 'more'? Instead, a measurable goal is: 'I will be on time for all my classes next week, arriving 5 minutes before the bell each time.' You can easily count if you were on time or not."

"What makes a goal measurable?


"

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 7: "A: Achievable - Is It Really Possible?")

"Then we have A for Achievable. Your goal should be challenging, but also realistic and possible for you to accomplish. It shouldn't be so easy it's not a goal, but it also shouldn't be impossible. If your goal is 'Never talk in class,' that might be unrealistic. You need to participate! An achievable goal could be: 'I will raise my hand at least 5 times per class during English next week to contribute to discussions.' That's a good stretch, but totally doable."

"Why is it important for a goal to be achievable?


"

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 8: "R: Relevant - Does It Matter to YOU?")

"R for Relevant. This is super important. Your goal should matter to you. It should align with your values, your other ambitions, and what you want for yourself. Why are you setting this goal? If it's just something someone else told you to do, you're less likely to stick with it. If improving your science grade is relevant because you want to pursue a career in medicine, that's powerful motivation!"

"How does a goal being relevant help you achieve it?


"

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 9: "T: Time-bound - Set a Deadline!")

"Finally, T for Time-bound. Every SMART goal needs a deadline. A specific end date or time frame. This creates urgency and helps you plan. 'I will improve my attendance' is open-ended. 'I will improve my attendance by having zero unexcused absences during the second grading period, ending December 15th' gives you a clear target and a timeline to work within."

"Why is a deadline so helpful when setting a goal?


"

(Briefly review SMART goals as a class, perhaps by asking students to recall what each letter stands for.)

My SMART Goals Workshop (15 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 10: "Your Turn! My SMART Goals")

"Alright, goal-setting champions! Now it's your turn to put this into practice. I'm going to hand out the My SMART Goals Worksheet. We're going to focus on three important areas for school success: grades, attendance, and behavior."

**(Distribute My SMART Goals Worksheet.)

"On this worksheet, I want you to draft one SMART goal for each area: one for your grades, one for your attendance, and one for your behavior. Take your time. Remember to make each goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. I'll be walking around to help you, answer questions, and give you feedback."

(Circulate the room, provide individual support and gentle prompts. Encourage students to think about what they genuinely want to improve and how they will track it.)

(Optional: "Once you have one goal drafted, feel free to share it with a partner next to you and get their feedback. Are both of your goals SMART?")

Reflection and Commitment (5 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 11: "Reflect and Plan for Success")

"Fantastic work on your goals! It's one thing to write them down, and another to stick with them. So, let's take a moment to reflect and plan for success. I'm going to hand out the Goals Reflection Journal prompts. If you have your own journals, you can write in those."

(Distribute Goals Reflection Journal prompts.)

"Think about these questions: What challenges might you face as you work towards your goals? How will you overcome those challenges? What's one step you can take today to get started? Reflecting on these will help you commit and prepare for any bumps in the road. Remember, commitment is key to reaching your goals."

(Allow students a few minutes to write.)

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (5 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to Goals: Level Up! Slide Deck - Slide 12: "You're a Goal-Setting Champion!")

"Alright, everyone, bring it back together. You are now officially goal-setting champions! Remember, setting SMART goals is like having a superpower. It makes your dreams clearer, gives you a map to follow, and helps you track your amazing progress."

"Keep these goals in mind, review them often, and celebrate your progress! As a final quick check-out, please complete this Goal Check-Out Cool Down as you leave class today. It will help you quickly summarize what you've learned."

(Distribute Goal Check-Out Cool Down. Collect them as students exit.)

"Great job today, everyone! I'm excited to see you all level up!"

My SMART Goals Worksheet: Level Up Your Life!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

Welcome, goal-setting champion! Today, you're going to create some powerful goals that will help you succeed in school. Remember to make your goals SMART:

• Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
• Measurable: How will you track your progress?
• Achievable: Is it realistic and possible for you?
• Relevant: Why is this goal important to you?
• Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal?

Goal Area 1: Grades

Think about one subject where you want to improve or maintain a strong grade.

My Draft Grade Goal (What do you want to achieve?)

Making it SMART:

1. Specific: What exact grade in what specific subject do you want to achieve? How will you achieve it (e.g., studying, asking questions, completing homework)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Measurable: How will you track your progress? (e.g., checking grades online, number of assignments completed, test scores)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Achievable: Is this grade increase realistic for you right now? What resources do you have or need? (e.g., teacher help, study groups, extra time)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Relevant: Why is this grade important to you? How does it connect to your future plans or personal growth?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Time-bound: By what date or during what grading period will you achieve this goal?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Final SMART Goal for Grades:

Goal Area 2: Attendance

Consider how you can improve your presence and punctuality in school and classes.

My Draft Attendance Goal (What do you want to achieve?)

Making it SMART:

1. Specific: What exact aspect of attendance are you focusing on? (e.g., being on time for all classes, having zero unexcused absences, being prepared to learn every day)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Measurable: How will you track your attendance? (e.g., checking school records, personal tracking, teacher feedback)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Achievable: What steps can you take to ensure you meet this goal? (e.g., setting alarms, packing your bag the night before, getting enough sleep)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Relevant: Why is good attendance important to your success in school?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Time-bound: By what date or during what period will you achieve this goal?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Final SMART Goal for Attendance:

Goal Area 3: Behavior

Think about one area of classroom behavior you want to focus on to improve your learning environment.

My Draft Behavior Goal (What do you want to achieve?)

Making it SMART:

1. Specific: What specific behavior do you want to change or improve? (e.g., participating more, listening actively, staying on task, respecting others)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Measurable: How will you track this behavior? (e.g., self-monitoring, teacher observations, number of times you raise your hand)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Achievable: What steps can you take to make this change? (e.g., making a conscious effort, having a plan for distractions, practicing patience)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Relevant: How will improving this behavior help you or your classmates in class?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Time-bound: By what date or over what period will you work on this behavior goal?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Final SMART Goal for Behavior:

Goals Reflection Journal

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

Now that you've set your SMART goals, let's take some time to think deeper about your commitment and plan for success. Use these prompts to reflect on your journey.

Reflection Question 1: Facing Challenges

What are some challenges or obstacles you might face as you work towards achieving your SMART goals for grades, attendance, and behavior? Think about things that have made it difficult in the past, or new things that might come up.

Reflection Question 2: Overcoming Obstacles

How will you overcome the challenges you identified? What strategies, resources, or people will you use to help you stay on track and push through difficulties? Be specific!

Reflection Question 3: Starting Today

What is one concrete step you can take today or tomorrow to begin working on one of your SMART goals? This should be a small, actionable step that gets you started.

Reflection Question 4: Support System

Who are the people in your life (teachers, family, friends, counselors) that can support you in achieving your goals? How can you ask them for help?

Reflection Question 5: Visualizing Success

Imagine yourself successfully achieving all three of your SMART goals. How do you feel? What does your school day look like? Write a short paragraph describing your success.

Goal Check-Out: Level Up!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

Quick Check-Out:

1. What does the "S" in SMART goals stand for?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Give one reason why setting measurable goals is important.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Write down one of your SMART goals (for grades, attendance, or behavior) that you feel most confident about achieving.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What is one thing you learned today about setting goals that you didn't know before?