Goal-Setting Chat Guide

Objective: Guide the student to craft a clear, motivating, and achievable SMART fitness goal they can commit to over the next month.

Time: ~6 minutes

Materials: My Fitness Pledge

1. Warm-Up & Focus (1 min)

• Teacher prompt: “Let’s think about one thing you really want to improve in your fitness right now. What comes to mind?”
• Follow-up questions:
  • “Why is that important to you?”
  • “How will achieving that make you feel?”

2. Introducing SMART Goals (1 min)

Explain each component briefly and why it matters:

• Specific: clear and detailed
• Measurable: trackable progress
• Achievable: realistic yet challenging
• Relevant: meaningful to you
• Time-bound: set within a clear deadline

Ask: “Have you heard of SMART goals before? What do you think each letter stands for?”

3. Guided Questioning (3 min)

Use the prompts below to help refine the student’s idea into SMART format.

1. Specific
   • Q: “What exactly do you want to accomplish? (e.g., run a certain distance, do a number of push-ups)”
   • Follow-up: “What details make that goal clear?”
2. Measurable
   • Q: “How will you know when you’ve reached it? How many times, reps, or minutes?”
   • Follow-up: “What number or marker will show success?”
3. Achievable
   • Q: “Do you have the time and resources to do this? What might make it realistic but still a stretch?”
   • Follow-up: “What small step can you take first?”
4. Relevant
   • Q: “How does this goal fit with your interests or needs?”
   • Follow-up: “Why does this matter to you right now?”
5. Time-Bound
   • Q: “When do you want to achieve this by? (date or number of weeks)”
   • Follow-up: “Is that deadline realistic given your schedule?”

After each section, rephrase their answers into one concise SMART goal statement.

4. Finalizing & Writing (1 min)

• Prompt: “Let’s write your SMART goal together on your pledge.”
• Teacher models writing: e.g., “I will jog for 20 minutes, three times per week, for four weeks starting May 1st.”
• Ask student to transfer their own goal into My Fitness Pledge.

Check for clarity:

• “If I asked you in two weeks about your progress, what would you tell me?”
• “What will you track each session?”

Next Steps:

• Remind student you’ll revisit this goal at the next check-in.
• Encourage them: “Keep this pledge somewhere you can see it every day!”

My Fitness Pledge

My SMART Fitness Goal:
Write your goal clearly, including how much, how often, and by when.

Why This Goal Matters to Me:
Describe why this fitness goal is important and how it will help you feel or perform better.

Start Date: ________________

I Pledge to Commit to This Goal and Track My Progress:

Student Signature: ____________________ Date: ________________