2022: the year for children to get SMART before they start
It’s already 2022! That means now is the perfect opportunity for students to reflect on the year previous and look ahead to a fresh calendar, presenting new challenges and opportunities. The in-home and online tutoring company, Tutor Doctor, believes that setting goals to strive for throughout the year is the ideal formula to maintain motivation, energy and a sense of direction, particularly in times of uncertainty.
Using the SMART system is a helpful way for students to set goals that are clear, relevant and most importantly achievable while also being the perfect formula to maximise children’s motivation. Here’s how they can set SMART goals for the coming year, so 2022 gets going on the right foot.
Specific: What do you want to accomplish?
Everyone knows that setting goals can be difficult. Being clear and specific when planning the year ahead will help children stick to their overall targets and keep them motivated to stay on task. Specific goals don’t have to be large, as that can run the risk of goals becoming overwhelming. When goals are too broad, it may make progress counterproductive. Sticking to more concise, focused tasks are easier to visualise and therefore offer a more rewarding learning experience throughout the year.
Measurable: How will you know what progress is being made?
Being able to track personal and academic journeys will show consistent progress. This will help children address ongoing developments in their learning experience as they happen at present. Adding a measure to a goal also helps students understand if it has been achieved or not. Having goals that also give the chance to see what needs to be changed, improved or worked on will provide a well-rounded education, as setting goals that are too easy will never offer children the chance to grow.
Achievable: Is it realistic?
That doesn’t mean goals shouldn’t be achievable! Setting goals that are realistic and attainable is equally as important. While it’s right to set ambitious targets to be motivated and energised throughout the year, they have to be achievable in order to keep students feeling rewarded and like they’re making positive progress. Ensure a balance is struck between setting more challenging and easier goals.
Relevant: What is the goal achieving?
Whether it’s in academics, extra-curricular pursuits or their interests and hobbies, it’s important to set goals that are relevant. Also, make sure that the goal actually matters to the student setting it. Ask them what they want from 2022 and tailor the goals they set to their own personalities and lives. It’s important to take into account children’s own lives in these exercises, as setting goals that aren’t solely focused on their academics will help them get into a routine, while also making the academic goals feel less daunting.
Time-bound: When should the goal be achieved?
Regardless of the nature of the goal, every target children set for themselves needs an end point. Keeping goals time bound will keep them focused and help maintain routines, especially as we appear to be re-entering uncertain territory. Ensure not to make them too long term (although some long-term goals are of course important), as the longer-term the goals are, the harder it can be to notice short-term progress.
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