We know goal setting can be a powerful tool for students. As a matter of fact, as educators, we help our students identify their long-term and short-term goals throughout their educational journey.  As powerful as these goals may be, students often lose sight of these goals for many reasons.

I believe, as Master Educators we have an opportunity to empower students beyond the typical long- and short-term goals. I suggest setting daily goals into your classroom activities.  These daily, academic intentions or goals can be even more powerful than those long- or short-term goals.

Begin your day by having your students identify a personal academic goal.  Have them write their goal on a post-it and have them stick it on a wall or dry erase board.  The purpose of the goal should be what they personally want to accomplish for the day, whether it be in the classroom or student salon.  Have them identify a specific task or activity that they will accomplish by the end of the day.

Direct students to perform a midday check-in and ask themselves to identify if they are achieving their goal.  If they are on point, have them place a star on their post-it note and if they have lost track, have them jot down an action step to help them get back on track.

At the end of the day, I encourage students to pull off their post-it and share with the class their goal and what successes they had.  If they didn’t personally meet their goal, have them share with the group an action step they commit to taking the next day.

These daily goals not only help students stay focused and on point throughout their day, but they can provide the opportunity to better help your students.