Teaching students how to set and achieve goals is one of the most important lessons you can give them. Goal-setting helps children build confidence, develop perseverance, and experience the joy and excitement that comes with accomplishing their goals. Read along in this how-to guide for setting goals for elementary students to learn the three action steps for success!
Benefits of Goal-Setting for Students
Elementary students are still developing their ability to think about the future and truly understand cause and effect. Setting goals teaches them important skills like:
- Planning
- Confidence
- Persistence
- Self-motivation
- Growth Mindset
- Responsibility
- Problem-solving
All of these skills are essential for building a positive foundation for lifelong success!
3 Action Steps for Teaching Students How to Set Goals
As a teacher or school counselor, you can guide your students toward meaningful achievements by helping them understand goal-setting, using interactive activities, and incorporating engaging books and videos to make learning exciting and meaningful.
1. Understand Goal Setting
Before you begin teaching students HOW to set goals, they need to understand WHY setting goals is so important.
Discuss long-term goals vs short-term goals, and then show them how to break their long-term goals down into small, manageable steps.
Practice this process together aloud.
Examples:
- Long-term goal: Attend the end-of-year Accelerated Reader (AR) party.
- Short-term goal #1: Identify your grade-level reading goal.
- Short-term goal #2: Read for 10 minutes each day after school.
- Short-term goal #3: Take at least one AR test each week.
- Long-term goal: Join the elementary school chorus.
- Short-term goal #1: Share this goal with your parents and music teacher.
- Short-term goal #2: Sign up for chorus tryouts.
- Short-term goal #3: Practice songs daily.
- Short-term goal #4: Attend tryouts.
When students learn to tackle their goals one step at a time, they will clearly see their success along the way. This helps them stay motivated and engaged to continue pressing on to bigger and better things.
2. Use Interactive Resources
Next, use interactive resources to help students apply their understanding of setting goals.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum about Self-Management
This Social Emotional Learning Curriculum about Self-Management teaches students about taking ownership of their personal growth. Darren, the Self-Management Superhero, helps guide students through setting SMART goals.
This resource includes lesson plans, activities, and discussion prompts to help students reflect on setting goals.
Goal Setting Sorting Activity
The Goal Setting Sorting Activity is an engaging, hands-on way for students to understand the difference between big dreams and small, actionable steps. In this activity, students sort different scenarios into categories to think about what makes a goal achievable and realistic.
They also learn about behaviors that prevent them from achieving goals like:
- Procrastination
- Making excuses
- Not being realistic
- Self-doubt
- Discounting the goal
Use the 40 pre-made sorting cards or make your own with the blank scenario cards to personalize the activity even more for your students.
Road to Success Game
The Road to Success game is another fun option for practicing setting goals for elementary students. While playing this game, students move through a “road to success” by setting and achieving goals in different situations. They have to identify ways to persevere when obstacles try to keep them from completing their goals.
This activity takes about 30-40 minutes to complete with a small group of students.
The game format of this activity keeps students engaged while reinforcing important goal-setting concepts. Your students won’t even realize they’re working because they’ll be having so much fun playing!
3. Incorporate Engaging Books and Videos
Finally, incorporate engaging books and videos to reinforce the importance of setting and achieving goals.
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I get a small commission that costs you nothing and helps me continue to provide this content.
Ambitious Ninja by Mary Nhin
This children’s book follows a ninja who learns that ambition and persistence can lead to great accomplishments when joined together. Students learn that big dreams are possible when broken down into smaller, achievable goals.
I Can Do Hard Things by Gabi Garcia
This book is perfect for reinforcing a growth mindset while working towards goals. It teaches students that challenges are a part of life and learning. They have the power to choose to use their inner strength to work through difficulties when they come!
My Magical Choices by Becky Cummings
This book focuses on making positive choices and taking responsibility for one’s actions. Both of these skills are crucial parts of setting goals for elementary students and vital for success! It empowers students to see that their decisions impact their outcomes.
Set and Achieve Goals by Bluejack Kids
This short video teaches children how to set achievable goals and accomplish them by breaking them down into smaller steps. The examples in this video are relatable for kids and help them understand the power of perseverance when obstacles come.
Teaching students how to set and achieve goals is one of the best ways to set them up for life-long success. By breaking big goals into smaller, manageable steps, you show them that anything is possible when it is taken one step at a time!
You might also be interested in reading:
Teaching Career Exploration in the Classroom
Teaching Growth Mindset in the Classroom
You might also be interested in these products:
What Would You Do? - Making Good Choices Lesson
Follow along and don’t miss a thing!
Instagram 💜 Pinterest 💜 Facebook 💜 Teachers Pay Teachers 💜 Amazon 💜 Counselor Collab
