Get a Smart Start

At New Mark Middle School in Kansas City, students need only look as far as their school mascot to discover five expectations their teachers and peers have of them during any given school year. The Northstars are expected to be self-starters, trustworthy, ambitious, respectful and success-driven. Together, the first letter of each goal forms the acronym STARS.

It’s easy and largely expected for teachers to lay out goals for their students at the beginning of a school year. But equally important is students’ setting goals for themselves.

“The bottom line is that we want kids to have direction and goals for themselves,” says Danelle Marsden, principal of Linden West Elementary School in Kansas City. “What do they want to learn and how do they want to accomplish it? Asking themselves these questions really helps them to take ownership of their own learning.”

“Routine” seems to be the key word when it comes to settling in for another school year. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent or a student, knowing how to anticipate your days can set the stage for nailing down concrete goals.

“The first few weeks I focus on trying to get routines down so we can make sure quality learning will take place for the rest of the year,” says Megan Darby, a fourth grade teacher at Bethany Lutheran School in Overland Park.

A student’s own quality investment in that learning process is significant.

“When students set goals for their academics and actually track the success of meeting these goals, they are more engaged in class,” says Terri Stirlen, principal at the New Mark Middle School.

But Stirlen isn’t referring to the generic, overly broad goals that so commonly surface with students in a new classroom. Goals such as “I want to get good grades” or “I don’t want to get in trouble” aren’t worth much, because they’re not easy to measure. Stirlen stresses the importance of setting specific goals, goals that can be easily measured and concretely mastered.

Marsden agrees.

“When we sit down with our students and start talking to them about their goals at the beginning of the year, we see the same responses over and over: ‘I want to be a better reader’ or ‘I want to be better at math,’” Marsden says.

She says she always hopes to hear goals that aren’t exclusively focused on academic improvement. The socialization piece of school–being in tune to what’s going on in their classrooms–is equally important.

One specific goal a student might set for a new school year, then, would be to make three new friends, or to reach out to one new student. Another goal might be to set aside one night per week to study with friends in designated study spaces.

By setting their own goals, students decide for themselves what they will accomplish and how they will go about it. Goal setting also provides opportunities for students to ask themselves how to improve and who to turn to for support when it’s needed, Marsden says.

To be sure, parents play a key role in helping their children meet their goals. Stirlen emphasizes the importance of parents’ taking a genuine interest in their children’s goal setting and holding them accountable to meet those goals. It is not a “hands-off” approach but rather letting go of the reins just enough to encourage kids to be their own advocates when it comes to their learning.

And finally, when a goal has been met, a student can ask herself how she can celebrate her success and who she can celebrate it with. What better way to come full circle? Set a specific goal, work toward it with adult guidance and support as necessary, meet it and acknowledge the success with those you love.

It gives “reaching for the stars” a whole new feel.

Kate Meadows writes from Louisburg, where she is busy with her two boys playing baseball, jumping in mud puddles, singing the "ABC" song and helping them recognize and sound out letters. She recently launched a new Website of writing and editing services at www.katemeadows.com.