Reaching Tomorrow Means Starting Today
Many people create goals and resolutions in January, the start of the calendar year. But for parents, teachers, and students, the year begins with the first bell. September is a great time to sit down to recalculate your goals.
When I taught middle school, one of my goals was to teach life lessons as well as reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. When writing a report or essay, my students needed to use their neatest handwriting, or do it over. "Miss Zabower, nobody writes in cursive anymore. We use computers." But the lesson went beyond writing in cursive to taking your time and presenting a job well done. That serves whether you present next year's prospectus in front of your colleagues or fix your client's muffler system.
Assigning presentations give teachers another opportunity for a life lesson. Middle school and high school students aren't born with the ability to plan and execute a long-term project. Even adults struggle with tackling big projects. It comes down to the ability to create a goal.
We often know where we want to end up; we often struggle with the steps to get there.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, late summer is a great time to sit down with your students to talk about goals. Or to set some of your own. Here are three tips to help you get create goals and three tips to help you reach them:
Creating Goals
1. Think about the end first. Coach Little used to come to the summer day camp where I worked, to teach basketball to the upper elementary and middle school campers. He started each session with drills. Drills, by definition, are repetitive and therefore boring. But Coach would respond to their grumbling by telling them that the best basketball player throwing three-pointers from the outside has to start with the drills because statistically speaking most points in a game are made at the free throw line. If you can't make a free throw, you won't be called off the bench.
Where do you want to end up? For high schoolers, this question may refer to college and career options. Middle schoolers may need more guidance with this question; high school seems so far away that thinking about after high school seems pointless. But so much of what they need in life comes from middle school! (OK, I may be a bit biased in that belief.)
2. Break it down. This is the hardest part about goal-setting: figuring out the steps needed to get where you want to go. I tend to be visionary rather than practical, and I need someone to come alongside to help me see the steps, and your students may need that help, too. Many years ago, when I was the director of children's church on Wednesday nights, I had this fabulous idea for a carnival. I shared it with the my Sunday morning counterpart, going on and on. Finally she said, "Where are you going to get the hay bales? Who is going to man the grill? Who is going to run the stands? How are you going to get the word out?" And on and on. I was crushed, but I needed that. The treasure on the other side of the river is worth the effort, but you'll never get there if your bridge has holes.
3. Set mini-deadlines. This is closely related to number two. First determine the steps, then give yourself mini-deadlines to get there. These deadlines may be weekly or quarterly, depending on the goal.
Reaching Goals
1. Develop the habit of finishing what you start. Like all things, this starts small, and like all habits, it, too, is by definition repetitive. But one step at a time, you'll get where you're going.
2. Re-evaluate regularly. Often the goals we set at first are too grand, or need more steps to get there. Don't be afraid to re-adjust your expectations monthly or quarterly. Set new goals and work towards them.
3. Stay motivated. Easier said than done, right? Too often we give up because we feel overwhelmed or don't see progress, especially with something like weight loss or money management. One way to overcome lack of motivation is to think in terms of LOSS. The mind hates loss. We avoid it, run from it, deny it. You want to lose 50 lbs; what will you be losing if you don't meet that goal? Good health, long life, doing fun stuff with family and friends -- you're missing out sitting on the sidelines. You've heard of a vision board. Try creating an ANTI-VISION board.
There are many ways to create and hold yourself accountable to the goals you set. Some people do it with vision boards; others do it with bullet journals. Whatever works for you. And your students.
