North Augusta Elementary

The character trait of the month is Goal Setting / Habit 2 from 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. This habit is Begin with the End in Mind. It focuses on goal setting, planning and being purposeful!  We will be using SMART goal setting to learn how to set goals effectively. When helping children to set goals, it is important to encourage them to not only identify the goal but to also be able to know when they have reached it! That's why it is important to help children set S.M.A.R.T. goals!  A S.M.A.R.T. goal is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. For example, if your child is not completing his or her homework regularly. You might want to set a goal with your child regarding homework completion. A goal like "hand in homework regularly" is not a S.M.A.R.T. goal. An example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal for homework completion might be to go at least one week without missing an assignment by November 30th. This goal gives a specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic task with a deadline so that both you and your child will know if he or she has reached the goal. You can check in with your child each day to see if he or she is on the right track to reaching his or her goal by checking and signing the agenda daily. Once your child accomplishes the goal, you can help him or her adjust the goal or set a new goal. (For example, if your child reaches the goal, you could raise the goal to going two weeks in a row without missing an assignment.) You can assist your child in turning almost every goal into a S.M.A.R.T. goal, but remember that children often need help and support from adults to reach their goals.

Here are some important tips on how parents can help their children to reach their goals:

•Have your child write down the goal he or she wants to achieve and hang it or put it somewhere he or she will see it regularly, like the refrigerator.

•Develop a plan with your child about how he or she is going to reach his or her goal (For example, for the goal above, you and your child could create a “homework/study space” free of distractions and set up a daily “homework time” every day.)

•Reward your child for steps in the right direction and for accomplishing his or her goal. (Rewards can be verbal praise, adding a sticker to a sticker chart, a tangible prize, doing something special like going to a movie, or some other type of reward that will motivate your child to reach his or her goal.)

•Be patient with your child when he or she does not reach his or her goal. Encourage your child to try again, and help your child adjust his or her goals when they become too easy or difficult.

•Set a good example for your child by also setting and writing down a S.M.A.R.T. goal for yourself. (This may boost your child's self-esteem while also helping you to reach your goal at the same time!) Attached is a S.M.A.R.T Goal worksheet link here. https://www.whatihavelearnedteaching.com/student-goal-setting-in-elementary/

•Lastly, share stories from your life, or even your day at work, where you had a goal or task that you accomplished. What steps did you take to accomplish it? How did breaking it down make it easier? Point out examples from your child’s life such as riding a bike, tying shoes, or another skill.