The One with Setting Goals

 In room 21 we like to set goals. Which really means I like to set goals and my excitement and over-enthusiasm for something boring has convinced my students liking to set goals. (Similar to their love of picking up trash and the smell of Clorox wipes…I’m a clean freak) 

It took a little a lot of practice and we started small. Over the course of 97 days we’ve added goals in writing, behavior, and math. Soon we will move to literacy goals.

My main focus is that:

1.       The kids pick their own goals – Even if EVERYONE likes “spelling and punctuation” as a writing goal. 

2.       Goals are visible for all to see – I think it’s so important for their goals to be shown off! Not only does it keep them accountable with their goal in sight it also reminds me to use their goals in day to day conversation.

 For example, in math I will tell certain students to pay close attention as this is their math problem goal. It also is helpful when conferencing for writing because I can look up at the board and incorporate their goal into our check-in. I also have students who without direction will chat with other kids who have their same goal. 

3.       Students remember and “Check” goals – When students don’t remember their goals that’s a problem! I always shoot for them to know what their goal is and how to achieve it. (goals about goals) In order for that to happen we have to talk about our goals often enough, usually once a week, we also ask friends for advice in how to achieve our goals. 

For example, if a student has a goal of using paragraphs correctly in their writing they visit with one of our in-house paragraph experts. The goal-setter shows their current work, asks the expert for tips, and decides if they have more work to do towards their goal or if it is accomplished. “Experts” are determined by me and casually mentioned during whole group learning based on past work. It all started when I randomly called someone a paragraph expert and the next three days others went to that student for help. Funny how some of my most successful teaching ideas come from the kids themselves! 

I’m a very visual person and have already typed too much for my own attention span and comprehension so here are the goals we currently have set in Room 21! 

This is our current math goals chart. It is focused on the skills in our current six week interim cycle. In order to gather the students’ goals for math I have them circle two problems they are still struggling with when working on their own. I then record which problems they want to focus on and create a chart- easy peasy! Math goals are the ones students most often seek out other classmates to talk about their similar goals. If even it’s to say, “Ugh, you have problems with that one too?”

Writing goals are teacher created based on the genre of writing we are currently working on. Right now we are working on persuasive writing using Lucy Calkins as our guide. In order to create this goal chart I simply gave students their name sticks and had them place it in the pocket of their goal. Spelling and punctuation is my LEAST favorite goal choice and also their favorite. Oy. This is where suppressing my urge to be a control freak comes into play – if it’s the goal they chose I *try* to honor it. I do give suggestions to those who I feel need a push and a more advanced goal.

At the end of our day we have English Language Development. The third grade splits up between four language development categories. This year I work with low English only students. During this time we do a quickwrite based on a prompt. Goals for this are simply around grammar, structure, and mechanics.  With this students stick their post-it to the window. It’s the easiest to create and update. Also a great dual purpose of my window.

Those are my current goals around the classroom but I’m always searching Pinterest and blogs for more ideas! Especially our next set of goals related to literacy and the Daily 5. Any tips are greatly appreciated! Thanks for sticking through and reading my post! It’s an exciting and nerve-racking new process!