Learning Goals for the New Year

Nov 29, 2024 • Goal Setting

What are your goals for the New Year? For adults, New Year resolutions are a common practice, especially goals surrounding health, well, and finances. But New Year’s Goals are not just for adults! Even young students can set New Year’s goals, particularly when it comes to school and learning.

Whether you’re six or 60, there’s always room to improve! Even the smallest resolutions can lead to big improvements with the right habits and dedication. Here are a few learning-focused resolutions to help kickstart the new year on the right foot.

Try these New Year’s learning resolutions for every age group for a strong start to the school year ahead.

Elementary Learning Goals

1. Read More. Resolution: “Spend 20 minutes a day reading”
   Daily reading has many amazing benefits for students, including boosting reading comprehension skills, expanding vocabulary and even reducing stress.
2. Participate in Class. Resolution: “Ask a question at least once a week.”
   Class participation can have a positive impact on learning, helping to boost student engagement in the learning process. Learn more about classroom participation.
3. Get and Stay Organized. Resolution: “Keep my notebooks and bookbag organized.”
   Skills such as sorting, arranging, grouping, and categorizing are simple home skills that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Being organized takes practice and repetition, but even young students can learn this simple skill.
4. Practice Math Regularly. Resolution: “Review multiplication tables for 10 minutes every day.”
   When students have a strong foundation and can recite math facts easily, it makes learning more complex concepts simpler.

Middle School Learning Goals

1. Homework Goals. Resolution: “Don’t leave homework until the last minute.”
   Putting off homework can cause stress, especially when students have to rush to complete it. By taking care of homework right away, students reduce stress and build their school confidence. These homework tips can help.
2. Pay Attention in Class. Resolution: “Don’t daydream in class.”
   Paying attention in class and taking notes boosts class engagement, improves one’s grasp of the subject, and improves retention at test time.
3. Stop Wasting Time. Resolution: “I put my phone away when working on homework.”
   Why: Improves focus and productivity during homework and study sessions.
4. Read for Pleasure. Resolution: “Read for pleasure, not just for school.” Reading for pleasure has many benefits, including boosting vocabulary, building empathy, reducing stress, and expanding attention spans.

High School Learning Goals

1. Do Homework Every Night. Resolution: “Do some schoolwork every night, even when none is assigned.” The habit of reviewing the day’s class notes helps strengthen neural connections and increase retention and recall. Learn more
2. Make Study Notes. Resolution: “Write study notes by hand when reviewing.”
   Creating handwritten notes can improve students’ ability to learn and recall concepts much better than typing them out.
3. Don’t Procrastinate. Resolution: “I will get started even if I don’t feel like it.”
   Remember, motivation comes from action, not the other way around. the best way to find motivation is to just begin. Learn more
4. Review Often. Resolution: “I will review my notes more often.”
   Shorter but more frequent study sessions are more effective than spending hours studying at one time. Spread material to study out over the days available and study in short blocks, building memory and retention during each session.

Remember, learning goals should not necessarily be focused on achieving an end goal; it’s about the process of improvement and habit development. Sometimes, the journey of figuring out how to achieve a learning goal teaches just as much as the goal itself.

Reach Your New Year’s Learning Goals with Oxford Learning

Ready to make your learning resolutions a reality? At Oxford Learning, we provide personalized tutoring programs that help students of all ages achieve their academic goals and develop new skills. Whether you’re looking to boost grades, enhance study habits, or explore new areas of interest, we’re here to help.

Enrol today at Oxford Learning and take the first step toward a year of growth and success. Find a location near you and discover how our expert tutors can help your child reach their learning goals, whatever they may be!

Find a location near you.

This post was originally published in 2006. Updated for 2024.