What are SMART goals?
SMART goals are a great way for students to set clear targets and track their progress as they work towards achieving them. SMART is made up of five core objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
These goals are designed to be clear and realistic, and to help your students know exactly what they're aiming for and how they’re going to get there. They also ensure that progress is easy to follow and that the goal is something the student can actually reach within a set timeframe.
Setting SMART goals with your students
Instead of letting your students set a goal without thinking about how to break it down into manageable steps, the SMART goal method helps them create a clear path to reaching that goal. For example, instead of something vague like, "I want to improve my reading," a SMART goal might look like, "I will read X pages of my homework book every night for the next week." This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, making it easier to stay on track and see progress.
As a teacher, you can help guide your students through this process to make sure their goals align with what you know they need to work on. You could even set an example by creating a SMART goal with them, showing them how to break it down. Once they see how it works, encourage your students to set their own SMART goals. This will give them the tools to break down bigger goals into smaller, manageable steps - and it will help them stay motivated as they track their progress.
How to write SMART goals
Younger students especially do better when they know what they need to do and can clearly see themselves progressing. SMART goals provide a clear framework that breaks down bigger concepts or goals that may seem much larger on the surface into smaller, manageable steps, making learning feel more approachable and less overwhelming.
The great thing about SMART goals is how simple and flexible they can be. They can easily be customised to suit the individual needs of each student, and they can be built upon once a student completes the first initial goal. This, in turn, supports a more tailored learning experience for each student, and it provides a more accurate insight into how your students are progressing.
Short term and long term SMART targets
You can help your students set both short-term and long-term SMART goals. For instance, short-term goals, such as completing weekly homework or finishing a reading book, can become SMART goals by adding specific details and deadlines. For example, you might say, "Answer 10 addition questions at home" or "read five pages of your book every night this week."
Even more long-term goals, like preparing for a test or becoming confident with times tables, can also be broken down into manageable SMART steps. You could encourage students to "learn five new times tables this month" or "revise for 15 minutes every day leading up to the end-of-term test."
Introducing SMART goals as part of your daily lessons can help your students stay focused and experience a sense of achievement as they stay on track with both immediate tasks and larger, more over-aching studies throughout the year.
Whatever the task at hand, breaking it down into manageable steps will help students stay on track and help you track their progress - and there's no time better than the new year to start! And if you're looking for educational resources to go along with your student's SMART goals, you're in the right place!
For almost 50 years, our team at EPSL have been working with local schools to supply all the classroom necessities your students need to flourish, including personalised exercise books, helpful revision posters, supplementary reading materials and more! So, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly team on 01254 686 500. We're always here to help!
