Coach’s Pep-Talk Script

Introduction (0-1 minute)

"Alright, team! Welcome to your 'Growth Game Plan' session! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for both in school and out: setting goals and sticking to them. Think of me as your coach today, and together, we're going to create a winning strategy for your success!"

Warm-Up: Perseverance in Action (5 minutes)

"To get us started, I want to show you a quick video. As you watch, I want you to pay close attention to the challenges these athletes face and how they keep pushing forward. What do you see them doing to overcome obstacles?"

(Play the selected sports highlight video from Level-Up Goals Slides (Slide 2).)

"Great! Now, what did you observe in that video? Don't be shy!"

(Allow students to share.)

"Awesome observations! So, how did those athletes show perseverance? What does 'perseverance' even mean to you?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion. Guide students to connect the video to the idea of not giving up when things get tough.)

"Exactly! Perseverance is that inner strength that helps us keep going, even when we feel like quitting. It's key to achieving anything worthwhile."

Direct Teach: What's Your SMART Goal? (10 minutes)

"Now, how do we make sure our goals are ones we can actually achieve? We don't just want to wish for things; we want to plan for them. That's where SMART goals come in!"

(Transition to Level-Up Goals Slides (Slide 3).)

"SMART is an acronym, and each letter helps us make our goals super effective. Let's break it down."

(Go through each SMART slide on Level-Up Goals Slides (Slides 4-8), explaining each letter and providing the examples.)

• "S is for Specific. Your goal needs to be clear. Instead of 'I want to be better at school,' think 'I want to improve my math grade from a B to an A on the next test.' See the difference?"
• "M is for Measurable. How will you know if you're making progress? If your goal is to 'read more,' how would you measure that? Maybe 'read one non-fiction book per month.' Now you can track it!"
• "A is for Achievable. Is your goal realistic? Challenging is good, but impossible isn't motivating. 'I want to fly to Mars next year' might be a bit of a stretch, but 'I want to save enough money to buy a new book each month' is totally doable!"
• "R is for Relevant. Does this goal matter to you? Is it important for what you want to achieve in life or school? If it doesn't matter, you probably won't stick with it."
• "T is for Time-bound. Every good goal needs a deadline. When do you want to achieve this by? 'I want to learn to play the guitar' is great, but 'I want to be able to play 'Happy Birthday' on the guitar by the end of the school year' gives you a target!"

"So, to put it all together, let's take a vague goal like 'I want to get better at basketball.' How can we make it SMART? What's a specific number of shots, by when, that's realistic for us?"

(Guide students to transform this example into a SMART goal collaboratively on the board or chart paper.)

Student Work: Draft Your Goal (10 minutes)

"Now, it's your turn to be the goal-setting pros! I'm going to give each of you a SMART Goal Card. Your task is to draft one academic or personal SMART goal."

(Distribute SMART Goal Cards.)

"Once you've drafted your goal, you're going to partner up with a classmate. You'll use the Goal Quality Check Rubric to give each other feedback. Be a good coach! Help your partner make their goal even stronger, and be open to their suggestions for yours. Then, make any revisions you think are necessary."

(Circulate, providing support and answering questions as students work and peer review.)

Share & Commit: Gallery Walk (5 minutes)

"Fantastic work, everyone! Now, let's celebrate our hard work and see what amazing goals you've set."

"I'd like everyone to post their SMART Goal Card around the room. We're going to do a quick 'gallery walk' to silently read and reflect on some of the awesome goals your classmates have created."

(Allow students to do a brief gallery walk.)

"As you leave today, I want to hear your verbal commitment. Tell me your SMART goal and one action you will take to show perseverance towards achieving it. This is your 'exit ticket' and your final pep talk to yourself!"

(Stand by the door and have each student share their goal and perseverance action as they leave. Offer a brief, encouraging comment to each.)

"Remember, every champion started with a goal and a plan. You've got your growth game plan now. Go out there and make it happen!"


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Teacher Notes:

• Be energetic and encouraging throughout. Use phrases like "Great job!", "That's a fantastic idea!", "Keep pushing!"
• Monitor student discussions during peer review to ensure feedback is constructive and focused on the SMART criteria.
• If time is short, emphasize the most critical components of SMART goals during the direct teach.

My Growth Game Plan: SMART Goal Card

Name:

My SMART Goal

In the space below, write down ONE academic or personal goal that is S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

• Specific: What exactly do I want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will it happen?
• Measurable: How will I know when I have reached my goal? What data or evidence will I use?
• Achievable: Is this goal realistic and possible for me to achieve right now?
• Relevant: Is this goal important to me? Does it align with my values and other goals?
• Time-bound: When will I achieve this goal? What is my deadline?

Perseverance Actions

Achieving goals often takes perseverance! What are two specific actions you will take to show perseverance if you face challenges or feel like giving up on your goal?

Action 1:

Action 2:

Peer Feedback (Optional)

(If doing a peer review, your partner can use this space to offer feedback based on the Goal Quality Check Rubric.)

Peer Reviewer's Name:

Feedback:

Suggested Revisions:

Goal Quality Check Rubric

Student Name: ____________________________

Peer Reviewer Name: ______________________

Use this rubric to evaluate a SMART goal. Check the box that best describes the goal for each criterion. Provide constructive feedback in the comments.

Overall Feedback & Next Steps

What is the strongest aspect of this goal?

What is one specific suggestion to make this goal even stronger?

Revised Goal (if applicable):