Smart Goals Script

Introduction: What's Your Dream? (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really exciting: achieving your dreams and getting better at things you care about. To start, I want you to take a moment and think. What is one thing you really want to achieve or get better at? Maybe it's in school, a sport, a hobby, or even something at home."

(Pause for a few moments, allowing students to think. Encourage them to share if they feel comfortable, but don't force it.)

Teacher: "Great! We all have things we want to do, right? These 'things' are what we call goals. Goals help us know where we're going, keep us focused, and help us see how much progress we're making. Today, we're going to learn a super effective way to set goals, so you can turn those dreams into reality!"

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 2: "Your Goal, Your Way!")

Understanding SMART Goals (15 minutes)

Teacher: "To set great goals, we can use a special trick called SMART goals. Has anyone heard of SMART goals before?"

(Allow a brief moment for responses.)

Teacher: "SMART is an acronym, which means each letter stands for something important. When we use all five parts, our goals become much clearer and easier to achieve. Let's break it down."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 3: "Why Set Goals?")

Teacher: "First up, S for Specific."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 4: "Specific")

Teacher: "A specific goal is clear and focused. It answers questions like: What exactly do I want to achieve? Why is this important? Who is involved? Where will it happen? For example, instead of saying, 'I want to get better at math,' a specific goal would be, 'I want to improve my math grade in algebra by one letter grade.' See how much clearer that is? It's not just 'better,' but 'improve my algebra grade by one letter grade.' Can anyone think of another example of making a vague goal more specific?"

(Encourage student responses, guiding them to make their examples more specific.)

Teacher: "Next, M for Measurable."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 5: "Measurable")

Teacher: "A measurable goal means you can track your progress and know when you've reached it. How will you know if you've succeeded? For our math example, 'I want to score at least 80% on my next math test' makes it measurable. You know exactly what score you're aiming for. What's a way you could measure if you're 'getting better at drawing'?"

(Facilitate discussion on how to quantify or observe progress.)

Teacher: "Then we have A for Achievable."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 6: "Achievable")

Teacher: "An achievable goal is realistic. It's challenging, but it's also something you can actually accomplish with effort. It's important not to set yourself up for failure with goals that are too difficult or impossible. If you want to run a marathon but you've never run before, aiming to run a mile first is more achievable. For our math goal, 'I will study for 30 minutes every day after school for my math test' is achievable. It's a concrete step. What if your goal was to learn to play the guitar? What's an achievable first step?"

(Discuss breaking down big goals into smaller, manageable steps.)

Teacher: "Now, R for Relevant."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 7: "Relevant")

Teacher: "A relevant goal is important to you and makes sense for your life right now. It aligns with your values and other objectives. Why does this goal matter to you? For example, 'Improving my math grade will help me understand future topics and get into a good high school program.' That shows why it's relevant to the student. Can you think of a goal that might be relevant to your life?"

(Encourage personal connections and reasons for goal importance.)

Teacher: "Finally, T for Time-bound."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 8: "Time-bound")

Teacher: "A time-bound goal has a clear deadline. This helps create a sense of urgency and motivates you to get started. When will you achieve this goal? Our math example specifies, 'I will achieve this by the end of the next grading period.' This gives a clear end date. Why is having a deadline important for reaching a goal?"

(Discuss the importance of deadlines for motivation and planning.)

Hands-On Goal Setting (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, you've learned about all the parts of a SMART goal! Now it's your turn to put this into practice. I'm going to hand out the My SMART Goal Worksheet."

(Distribute My SMART Goal Worksheet. Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 9: "Let's Set Your SMART Goal!")

Teacher: "On this worksheet, you'll find space to brainstorm and write your very own SMART goal. Take your time, think about what you truly want to achieve, and make sure it fits all five SMART criteria. I'll be walking around to help if you have any questions or need some guidance. Feel free to share your ideas with a partner if you'd like to bounce them off someone."

(Circulate around the room, offering individual support, checking for understanding, and providing feedback. Remind students to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.)

Share & Reflect (5-10 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent work everyone! Now that you've had a chance to craft your own SMART goals, who would be willing to share their goal with the class? Don't worry, we're here to support each other."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 10: "Sharing Our Goals")

Teacher: "When you share, tell us: What is your goal? Why is it important to you? And what makes it SMART?"

(Call on a few volunteers. After each student shares, offer positive feedback and ask clarifying questions if needed.)

Teacher: "Fantastic goals, everyone! As you can see, setting SMART goals is a powerful tool. It helps us break down big dreams into actionable steps and gives us a clear path forward. Remember, believing in yourself, staying focused, and celebrating your progress are all key parts of reaching your goals."

(Transition to Smart Goals Slide Deck Slide 11: "Keep Aiming High!")

Teacher: "To wrap things up, we're going to do a quick reflection using the Goal Getter Reflection activity. This will help you think about what you learned today."

(Conclude the lesson by transitioning to the Goal Getter Reflection cool-down activity.)

My SMART Goal Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

What is a goal you want to achieve or something you want to get better at?

Let's make it SMART!

Use the questions below to help you create your own SMART goal.

S - Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will it happen? Why is it important?

M - Measurable: How will you know when you have reached your goal? How will you track your progress?

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

R - Relevant: Is this goal important to you? Does it align with your values or other objectives?

T - Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal? What is your deadline?

My SMART Goal Statement:

(Write your complete SMART goal here, combining all the elements you've brainstormed above.)

I will...

Action Plan: What steps will you take to achieve your SMART goal?

Goal Getter Reflection

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

What did you learn today about setting goals?

Why is it important to set SMART goals?

What is one thing you will do this week to start working on your SMART goal?

Goal Setting Activity Sheet: Making Your Dreams SMART!

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Part 1: My Big Dream

Think about a big dream or aspiration you have for your future. It could be academic, personal, or related to your wellbeing. Don't worry about how