Target Skills: Week 4 Goal Setting “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” -Benjamin Mays

Where do you want to go and what do you want to accomplish? Goals give you focus, direction, and purpose. Having a goal also helps you determine a plan of action. Source: Woodburn Press

Goal Setting Goals can be: Short Term Long Term (example – get a B on your upcoming Algebra Test) Long Term (example – graduate from high school as a Bear Scholar) Source: Woodburn Press

Goal Setting S – Specific M – Measureable A – Action-Oriented Goals should be SMART: S – Specific M – Measureable A – Action-Oriented R – Realistic T - Timed Source: Woodburn Press

Goal Setting – SMART S – Specific Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do. Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model. Example – Try harder in English is not specific, but “get a B in English this semester” is specific. Source: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting

Goal Setting – SMART M - Measureable If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and achieve your goal. Example: I will finish reading Great Expectations before my teacher’s deadline by reading 2 chapters every night. Source: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting

Goal Setting – SMART A - Attainable Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing. However, your goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. Source: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting

Goal Setting – SMART R - Realistic Similar to Attainable – if the goal is Realistic, it is doable. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. Example A goal of never again eating sweets may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods. It may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. Source: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting

Goal Setting – SMART T - Timed Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by 12th grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards. If you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now. Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic. Source: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting

Goal Setting At the beginning of the school year, you wrote a letter to yourself describing goals you want to accomplish before you graduate from high school.

Goal Setting Are the goals you set for yourself SMART? What short-term goals should you set for yourself to make sure you reach your long-term goals (What should you do this semester, this school year, etc.) What are you doing currently to make sure that you reach your goals? What should you be doing differently to make sure you reach your goals?