Foolproof Guide To Setting Goals For Students Of All Ages

Jan 8, 2010

It’s a new year, which means that it’s resolution time! 99.99% of resolutions are lifestyle resolutions: I’d like to eat better; I’m going to exercise more. But what about academic resolutions? The New Year is a chance to examine the areas of our life that need improving, and academics are no exception.

More likely than not, school is the one area that needs an overhaul the most.

By this point in the school year, students are in a pretty comfortable routine. They know their teachers; they know their classmates. They’re in a groove…but there is such a thing as being TOO comfortable, a fact that high school students can certainly attest to. Just as high schoolers are becoming familiar with their school routine, end-of-semester exams arrive. The arrival of exams calls for a change of tactics—a new way of thinking.

It’s time to re-energize the learning momentum.

It’s time to put down that Wii controller, step away from Facebook, and write down some academic goals for the New School Year!

However, setting goals isn’t typically a strong point for students. So, with that in mind, we compiled our Foolproof Guide to Setting Goals That Stick For Students of All Ages.

The first thing to know is that there is such a thing as a wrong way and a right way to set goals. Setting goals the wrong way sets students up for disappointment. Setting them the right way keeps student on track for success.

With that in mind, there is one simple rule to follow when setting goals:

To do that, students need to keep three tips in mind:

1. Don’t make broad goal statements
2. Keep goals realistic
3. Set goals with milestones

Here’s an example of a math-based goal that a student might make:

The wrong way to set a goal: I want to improve my math grade.

The right way to set a goal: I want to bring up my math grade from a C-minus to a C-plus for the next test.

By putting milestones in place, students can track where they began, where they are now, and where they are heading. This is a system that tracks success in a given timeline. And we all know that the more success we see, the more motivated we are to stick to the program.

The next step? Write down your goal in your own handwriting and put it someplace where the whole family can see it. This keeps us accountable for our goals.

Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you aren’t reaching your milestone. Did that test come and go and the grade stayed the same? Maybe it’s time to call Oxford Learning.

After all, built in to all of our programs is a system that helps students stay on top of their goals, and keep working towards better grades.

Oh, and one last thing: celebrate!

We can’t think of a better way to start the New Year.

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