In this guide

The importance of setting goals in education
Setting SMART educational goals for students
Strategies to help students set SMART goals
Examples of student goals and associated SMART goals
Setting SMART educational goals for teachers
What are some examples of teacher goals?
An example of SMART goals in my classroom
Conclusion
- Sources

The importance of setting goals in education

Goals are fundamental for teachers and students alike. Research shows that setting challenging goals is more effective than goals that merely ask someone to do their best and are a more effective way to set individual expectations. When goals are difficult but achievable they can help motivate the person setting the goals to reach for higher levels (Department of Education and Training, 2023).

Students need to learn to set goals to ensure they can achieve specific skills or knowledge in a specified timeframe. Teachers need to set goals to increase learning inside the classroom and continue building knowledge to advance their careers. One effective way of doing this is to set SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

SMART Goal Setting — Image Source: Canva.com

Setting SMART educational goals for students

Setting SMART goals with students is essential because they help students work effectively and can promote self management and motivation.

In the past, I have used SMART goals with my students to help them identify their yearly learning goals and break down the tasks they needed to achieve in order to attain that goal. For example, a past student of mine originally created a goal of, “I want to do better”. After some discussion we decided that a more achievable and measurable goal was, “I want to get a B in English instead of a C.” This was both realistic and attainable as their overall score was already close to 80%. After that I asked them to break this goal down further to make it, “I want to get a B on my first test.” Once they had achieved that first B, they expanded the goal to a B on each test. They then measured the success of this goal by creating a success chart for each B, and were able to see with each B that they were closer and closer to their ultimate goal of a B in English.

So how can educators work with their students to set up SMART goals with all of their students? Here are some strategies I’ve used in the past.

Strategies to help students set SMART goals

Specific

Set specific goals by asking the students to consider the following ‘W’ questions

What do I want to do better?
Who can help me?
Why is this a good goal?
When do I want to achieve this goal?

Measurable

Consider how the goal will be measured in a tangible way. For example younger students who have a goal of reading more can make the goal specific by deciding how many pages they want to read each day and track their progress on a chart. Teenage students may set a goal of learning 100 Spanish verbs by the end of a semester. The success of this goal which they can then test themselves with flashcards or getting someone to test them.

Achievable

Big goals are great, but they need to be broken down into smaller milestones. This will help students track their progress, and means they can also celebrate the wins along the way. Asking questions like:

Can I reach my goal in the time I have available?
Do I have everything I need to achieve my goal? If not, what do I need to do to have them?
Did I break my goal down into manageable steps?

Will help them create a series of smaller tasks so they can achieve the bigger one.

Realistic

Goals need to be realistic to be attainable. Asking questions such as:

Am I passionate about my goal?
Will I be able to stay motivated while working toward my goal?
What are the benefits to me to reach my goal?

Will help the student to decide whether the goal is a realistic one. Encourage students to discuss their goal with someone else, a peer, a parent, their cat, and ask for feedback. Sometimes when we say things aloud, the answer to our question presents itself.

Timely

A timely goal will help students keep on track. There are some strategies that they can use to ensure that their goal is timely.

Break the goal down into smaller steps and determine how long each step should take.
Look at the schedule for other commitments in and out of school to decide how much time they realistically have available.
Set deadlines for milestones of the smaller goals. Adjust the timeline as necessary for unexpected setbacks or commitments.

Examples of student goals and associated SMART goals

So far everything I’ve shared has been abstract. Here are some examples of student SMART goals that you can use as examples with your student to get them started.

1) Be positive

S: I will be more positive about my school day and acknowledge even the smallest positive experiences.
M: I will keep a journal to record 3 positive experiences or thoughts each day.
A: I will use self-awareness techniques to catch my negative thoughts and make them into positive ones in real time. I.e. Instead of saying “I can’t do this,” say “I can find a solution.”
R: I know that changes take time and effort. If I can’t find 3 positive experiences in one day, I will start with smallest accomplishments like, I was on time for all of my classes today.
T: I will use positive language every day for 30 days.

2) Improve study habits and improve GPA

S: Improve note-taking, and time management study habits so my work is completed on time and I improve my grades.
M: Create a chart to track due dates and scores.
A: Plan specific times to study and make it a routine. I will regularly review my study habits and make adjustments based on what works best for me.
R: Break down study sessions into smaller chunks to maintain focus and prevent burnout.
T: Improve my grades by the end of the semester.

3) Be better organized

S: To be more organized when I study at home. This includes keeping track of assignments, and saving my files so I don’t lose them.
M: I will declutter my study space at home once a week and make sure my files have been saved.
A: I will create a to-do list and include my everyday tasks. I can do this on an app and set reminders or write on paper.
R: When I am more organized, I am less stressed and more efficient.
T: I will spend 15 minutes before I go to bed to make sure my digital files are backed up, my to-do list is complete, and my bag is packed for school so I don’t forget anything.

4) Learn to be better at problem-solving

S: To be a better critical thinker and decision-maker.
M: I will solve one complex problem on my own each week.
A: I can get better by working on my skills with puzzles and real-life scenarios.
R: Problem solving is important for doing well in school and real life, pulse it will help reduce my stress and anxiety.
T: I will keep a journal where I write down my challenges, possible solutions, and what I did to solve them. I will achieve this goal by writing in my journal throughout the semester.

Setting SMART educational goals for teachers

As teachers, we are constantly striving to improve our skills and to help our students learn. Setting goals for ourselves helps us identify the areas where we want to improve and helps us track our progress in each of our goals.

Whether the goal is creating an engaging classroom or improving student achievement, make sure the goal is SMART. When we as teachers set SMART goals it makes us take a good look at what we want to achieve and how we plan to do it. They are necessary, as well, to help you align your teaching practices with standards and your school’s expectations.

For me, being clear about my short and long-term goals is essential to remain organized. Using SMART goals has helped me target areas of improvement for both myself and my students. For example, I identified the need to increase the overall writing levels for my students as they had not had a specific focus in the past and were writing below grade level. I used SMART goals to create individual milestones and used regular targeted writing activities and consistent feedback which resulted in an overall level increase for each student.

Using SMART goals has also helped me recognize areas where I would like to focus my professional growth and, within my time restraints, find specific shorter courses such as using technology in the classroom and identifying instructional strategies to help me create a more productive classroom environment.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you reflect on setting SMART goals.

Specific

How can I clearly define my goal to make sure that it addresses an area of concern?
What are specific actions I need to take to achieve this goal?
What changes do I want to experience when I have achieved this goal?

Measurable

How will I know when I have reached my goal?
How will I measure my progress?
How can I gauge my improvements?

Achievable

What are the skills I need to develop to reach my goal?
What are possible challenges I might encounter in reaching my goal?
Do I have the time and/or energy I will need to give to this goal?

Realistic

Are my goals aligned?
Have I asked colleagues or mentors if my goals are realistic?
Are my goals reasonable within my chosen timeframe?

Timely

What is a reasonable timeframe to accomplish my goal?
How will I prioritize my time? How will I adjust my timeline if there are unexpected delays?
What steps should I take right away to get started on my goal?

What are some examples of teacher goals?

Making a habit of setting goals helps you keep your motivation and passion for teaching. It is necessary for your success and general happiness.

1) Patience

Wait for students to process instructions before moving on to new information.
Learn to deal with the many student personalities.
Cultivate patience when managing student behavior.

2) Student engagement

Implement interactive activities that encourage participation.
Add group projects and cooperative learning to lesson plans.
Think of ways to add hands-on learning.

3) Technology integration

Develop technology-based projects that promote critical thinking and/or problem-solving skills.
Attend continuing education classes to acquire new skills that you can apply to your classroom.

4) Professional development

Complete a certification course in a new teaching methodology.
Attend a professional development workshop.
Go to conferences within my subject area.

5) Parent-teacher communication

Decide when to communicate with parents and guardians.
Choose communication channels like classroom websites, newsletters, and email updates.
Use strategies to involve parents in their child’s learning.
Ask for feedback through conversations or surveys.

6) Community involvement

Plan a community service activity to foster social responsibility and empathy.
Coordinate with local organizations for a career fair.
Establish a community service project that will continue throughout the school year.

7) Create and manage a productive learning environment

Establish clear expectations that promote respect and empathy with students.
Address all instances of bullying or exclusions.
Foster a sense of ownership by implementing elements of autonomy and student choice.
Change the layout of the classroom to optimize learning.

An example of SMART goals in my classroom

When I went to a small bilingual school in Costa Rica, my homeroom class was a combination of 5th and 6th-grade students, a total of 8 students.

My goal for the year was to create an environment where the students felt their voices were heard and that gave them autonomy and a level of control of their learning environment.

In order to achieve this goal I created a set of SMART goals. I have outlined the first goal and a series of questions I asked myself in order to achieve that goal.