Ms. Cotton's Corner

I have written a lot about setting SMART goals with students, and how that can be a powerful and effective tool for student achievement. Here are some of my most popular posts on the subject in case you missed some, or need a refresher!

4 Important Reasons to Use SMART Goals in Your Classroom

This post gives you all the reasons that S.M.A.R.T. Goals are a good use of your time. I know, time is the most precious commodity that we have, and there is never enough. And Goal-Setting is not in the standards, or the curriculum…. So, why should you spend precious instruction time on it? This post explains why. (Hint: Goal-setting can actually SAVE you time in the long run!)

Setting SMART Goals with Students

This is the place to start if you are new to S.M.A.R.T. Goals. This post goes over the basics. You will learn what the acronym means and I give you a few tips from goal-setting in my own classroom. While you’re there, you will want to be sure to grab this FREE template with an example to help you and your students set S.M.A.R.T. Goals? Grab it today. It’s FREE!

Next, add this video to your Edpuzzle account so that you can share it with students. The video introduces the idea of S.M.A.R.T. Goals in a way that is accessible for students, and it gives examples of goals that meet the criteria. All that in about 3 minutes!

How to Introduce Reading SMART Goals to Your Students

This post is a snapshot of the first day of goal-setting in my 5th grade classroom. This post focuses on setting Reading goals because that’s where I usually begin. But, there are tips in this post that will help you with any subject area. I take you through the journey with my students, giving you some of the actual words that I used, and their responses. (Some are very funny! 🙂 ) When you are rollling out Goal-Setting for the first time, feel free to use my process. Over time I know you will make it your own.

Setting Meaningful Reading Goals with Your Students

This blog post dives deeply into reading goals. There are lots more tips for teachers on how to help students set relevant and meaningful goals – which they are more likely to follow through on! The post gives reading specific examples and lots to think about with how to empower your students with meaningful reading goals! Read this post to learn:

1. How to help students write meaningful goals.
2. How to help students track their data so that they can set relevant goals.
3. Tips for how often students should set new goals.

S.M.A.R.T. goals have been a game changer in my classroom, and they can be a powerful motivator in your classroom as well. Keep checking back because I have lots more to say about how to bring this powerful tool to your classroom!

If you need a ready-to-go resource to help you set goals with your students, track their data, and raise their achievement, be sure to grab this Student Data Binder. It includes 145 printable pages to help you and your students set goals, track data and grow in every content area!