Student Goal Setting
On the first day of school with each new class I assign as a Library Project, due at mid-term a "mission statement". The students must put into writing why they wanted to go to school, what their goals are and what their drive or inspiration to be there is. After I grade these I make a copy of them and put them in each students personal file.Simply so that if they lose track of this somewhere along the way I can refresh their memory as to why exactly they are doing this and hopefully put that inspiration back into their education!
Norma,
I think this is a great exercise because forces them to think about and then write down their goals for their careers. This effort gives them visual clues in terms of how they can proceed toward the goals they have set for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Same thing, on the first day of class I ask my students how they came about on deciding to continued with their education and if there is a plan of action written. Most of the time is "NO"
so this is when I assign them writing their first goal setting paper. And through out their time in school their goal setting paper is review or even revise as a way to keep them motivated and on track with their career.
Naomi,
It is so important to restate that career goal or dream that brought them back to school in the first place. Your class opening enables them to reflect and restate those goals so they can reinforce themselves and renew their focus on why they are going to school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really like your idea; I do something very similar to this as well. What I do is that I have the students introduce themselves to the class on the first day and I have them share with the class as to why they decided to come back to school. One of reasons is so that everyone in the class can hear that they are not alone and that many of the reasons are very similar. Many times students tend to lose their goal, their dream as to why they decided to come back to school. Teachers and students need to help and remind the students almost on a daily basis as to why and what made them come back to school.
Charles,
They need these reminders as you know because as they progress through a course they get tired and worn down. Being reminded of how far they have come and what the future holds for them in terms of success helps them to catch a second wind and successfully complete the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like this approach and will find a way to do this with my students every day. Remind them everyday why they are here.
Kimberly,
It is easy to wear down and lose track of the reason for being in a class. When the instructor reminds them of the value of the course then they perk up and get back on the learning track.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I remind my students everyday why they are here and what their goals are and then we build on them daily
Nicole,
I like this approach because you have a built in reminder to share with students throughout the course of their progress toward their career goals. When the pressures of life get built up they sometimes forget why they are in school and what they can achieve if they will stay enrolled.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
