Hopeful Attitudes

People have been setting goals since Abel beat Cain with his better gift to their Dad, Adam.  Of course, Cain then beat Abel like narcs at a bikers’ rally. There are personal goals, company goals, team goals, governmental goals, financial goals, and on and on and on. A goal is a desired result a person or system envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.  Envisions, plans, and commits to. Envisions, plans, and commits to.  A goal is really not a goal unless a person truly envisions it. A goal is really not a goals unless a person plans to make it happen. A goal is really not a goal unless a person commits to it. What were your goals when you were in elementary school? Middle School? High School? College? Adulthood?  Bet they changed over time. I recently read an article about students and goal-setting. A Gallup poll determined that the majority of students lack faith in their ability to reach goals.  Guess at which age to begin to form this idea – 7 or 8!  Yep, so those students who are 2^nd or 3^rd graders may have already developed a mindset on what they can or cannot achieve.  Still reading?  Only 42% of students aged 10-18 say they are actively pursuing their goals.  Still reading?  65% of students say that the obstacles in the way of achieving their goals are just too hard to get through.  They suffer from something I wrote about a few weeks ago – a loss of hope.  The key to achieving goals, not matter what age you are, is to have ahopeful attitude.  We could be influential in turning this data around.

A school corporation in Virginia uses the S.M.A.R.T. approach with their students.  S = specific. M = measurable. A = attainable. R = realistic. T = timely  We have set goals for this “testing season” at the school, team, and individual student levels. What about the daily goal that is posted in your classroom? Is it specific? Is it measurable? Is it attainable? Is it realistic? Is it timely?  Think about your long-term learning goals in the same way. As we help students track their progress toward goals, think about this - Does every student understand exactly what the goal is specifically?  Can you measure student progress toward these goals ? Is the goal that you posted attainable? (some will not think so) Is the goal posted realistic? (some will not think so) Is the goal timely?  That last one can be achieved by breaking the larger goal into smaller segments. As an example, ask the kids in your class what they want to be when they grow up.  Do you hear engineer, doctor, lawyer, vet, pro athlete? Then ask the kids what  they are doing to reach this goal. We have to show them the connection. What have to show them what it takes. We have to show them ways to go through the obstacles; not around the obstacles but through them and support them along the way.  As they reach segmented goals in a timely manner, their hopeful attitude is elevated so that tackling the next goal will be done with  fervor. We can help them envision it. We can help them plan for it. We can provide guidance on how to commit to it.  We have to give them hope.