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Setting a Goal That's Worth Working For

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Lesson Plan

Setting a Goal That's Worth Working For

Students will be able to write a long-term academic or personal goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Setting SMART goals helps students clearly define their aspirations, develop a roadmap for achieving them, and build self-efficacy. This skill is crucial for academic success and personal growth, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

15 Minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application using a worksheet.

Materials

From Dream to Done: Advanced Goal Setting Slide Deck, and My High School Dream Goal Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials

5 Minutes

Step 1

Connect to Prior Knowledge: What's Your Dream?

3 Minutes

  • Begin by asking students to think about a dream or aspiration they have for their future. This could be something academic, a personal skill, or even a future career idea.
    - Ask: "What's a big dream you have for your future? It could be about high school, college, a job, or even a skill you want to learn."
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging 2-3 students to share their dreams. (Refer to From Dream to Done: Advanced Goal Setting Slide Deck - Slide 1)

Step 2

Introduce New Concept: The SMART Goal Framework

5 Minutes

  • Introduce the concept of SMART goals as a way to turn dreams into actionable plans.
    - Go through each component of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) using the From Dream to Done: Advanced Goal Setting Slide Deck (Slides 2-7).
    - Provide clear examples for each component, ensuring students understand what each part means in practice.

Step 3

Guided Practice: Let's Make It SMART!

4 Minutes

  • Display a hypothetical student dream on the board or screen (e.g., "I want to get good grades in high school.").
    - As a class, work through refining this dream into a SMART goal using the framework. Ask guiding questions for each letter of SMART.
    - For example: "How can we make 'good grades' more Specific? What would be a way to Measure that? Is it Achievable? Is it Relevant to a high school student? When will this goal be Time-bound?"
    - Guide students to collectively transform the general dream into a specific SMART goal. (Refer to From Dream to Done: Advanced Goal Setting Slide Deck - Slide 8)

Step 4

Independent Application: My High School Dream Goal

2 Minutes

Step 5

Reflect and Share: My SMART Vision

1 Minute

  • Ask students to reflect on the process of turning a dream into a SMART goal.
    - Invite a few volunteers to briefly share their SMART goals (or a part of their goal, if they prefer not to share the full details).
    - Conclude by reiterating the power of SMART goals in making dreams a reality. (Refer to From Dream to Done: Advanced Goal Setting Slide Deck - Slide 10)
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Slide Deck

What's Your Dream?

What's a big aspiration you have for your future?

  • High School?
  • College?
  • A Job?
  • A Skill You Want to Learn?

Ask students to think silently for a moment. Then, invite 2-3 students to share their dreams or aspirations with the class. Encourage a positive and open environment.

From Dream to Done: Setting SMART Goals

Dreams are wonderful, but how do we make them happen?

We turn them into SMART Goals!

Transition from dreams to goals. Explain that dreams are great, but goals help us turn those dreams into reality. Introduce the SMART acronym as a powerful tool.

S is for Specific

Your goal should be clear and well-defined.

  • What exactly do you want to achieve?
  • Who is involved?
  • Where will it happen?
  • Why is this goal important to you?

Instead of: "I want to get better at math."
Try: "I want to improve my algebra grade to a B+ by studying 30 minutes every evening."

Explain 'Specific.' Emphasize clarity and detail. Give a non-academic example first (like a sports goal) and then an academic one.

M is for Measurable

You need to be able to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal.

  • How will you know when the goal is accomplished?
  • What metrics will you use?

Example: "...improve my algebra grade to a B+..." (The B+ is measurable.)

Explain 'Measurable.' How will students know if they've achieved their goal? Focus on quantifiable outcomes.

A is for Achievable

Your goal should be realistic and attainable.

  • Is it possible to achieve this goal?
  • Do you have the resources and skills needed (or can you get them)?

Example: Improving from a C to a B+ is achievable with effort, while going from an F to an A in a week might not be.

Explain 'Achievable.' The goal should be challenging but realistic. Discuss the difference between a dream and an impossible fantasy.

R is for Relevant

Your goal should matter to you and align with your values and long-term plans.

  • Is this goal worthwhile?
  • Does it fit with my other goals and aspirations?

Example: Improving an algebra grade is relevant if you want to pursue STEM in high school or college.

Explain 'Relevant.' The goal should matter to the student and align with their broader aspirations. Connect it back to their initial 'dream.'

T is for Time-bound

Your goal needs a deadline or a specific timeframe for completion.

  • When do you want to achieve this goal?
  • What's the target date?

Example: "...by studying 30 minutes every evening by the end of the semester." (The end of the semester is time-bound.)

Explain 'Time-bound.' Emphasize setting a deadline to create urgency and a target to work towards.

Let's Practice! Make This Dream SMART:

Dream: "I want to get good grades in high school."

How can we make it:

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




Lead the guided practice. Write a general dream on the board and ask students to help make it SMART, prompting them for each letter. For example, 'I want to get good grades in high school.'

Your Turn! My High School Dream Goal

Now it's your chance to turn one of your dreams into a SMART goal!

Use the My High School Dream Goal Worksheet to guide you.

Remember to make your goal:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound

Explain the worksheet activity. Reiterate the importance of making their own goal SMART. Circulate and provide support.

Reflect & Share: Your SMART Vision

Take a moment to reflect:

  • What was challenging about making your goal SMART?
  • What do you feel confident about?

Optional: Share your SMART goal (or parts of it) with a partner or the class!

Conclude the lesson by asking for volunteers to share. Emphasize the benefit of SMART goals for their future success.

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Worksheet

My High School Dream Goal Worksheet

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________

My Big Dream for High School (or Beyond):

Think about something you really want to achieve during or after high school. It could be academic, a personal skill, a future career idea, or even a community project. Write your initial dream here, even if it's not super specific yet.












Turning My Dream into a SMART Goal

Now, let's use the SMART framework to make your dream a powerful, actionable goal. Answer the questions below for your dream goal.

S - Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? Be clear and detailed. Who is involved? Where will it happen? Why is this goal important to you?







M - Measurable: How will you know when you've reached your goal? What evidence or metrics will show your progress?







A - Achievable: Is this goal realistic and attainable? Do you have the resources or skills needed, or can you get them?







R - Relevant: Does this goal truly matter to you? Does it align with your values, interests, and long-term plans?







T - Time-bound: When do you want to achieve this goal? What is your target deadline?







My Final SMART Goal:

Combine all your answers above into one clear, concise SMART goal statement:

By (Time-bound) I will (Specific action/achievement) which will be measured by (Measurable outcome) because (Relevant reason), and I know this is possible because (Achievable explanation).













Reflection:

What was the most helpful part of making your goal SMART?




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