Conclusion
Goal-setting research in schools shows that students learning, motivation, and self-regulation can be improved when students pursue goals that are specific, receive feedback on their goal progress and focus their attention on learning processes. Teachers typically plan daily lessons around specific learning opportunities and requirements. Content difficulty usually is low initially to make sure that students learn skills and learn good habbits as students become more proficient.
Every child will not grow up to be a leader, nor should this be an expectation. It should however be an expectation that children are taught fundamental skills to help them thrive and grow throughout their life time. Many will argue that skills such as organizational, problem solving, creative thinking and motivational skills are taught in school by happenstance. Those children fortunate enough to pick up those skills along their journey will be better prepared when they move into adulthood. Children whose families support these skills in the home will be even more prepared.
Goal setting in school, in sports, in the home or in any area of a person’s life is healthy. Goal setting complimented with a teacher, coach, parent or confidant brings strength, accountability and self-confidence. Goal setting is an opportunity for children and teens to grow, develop life skills, create a routine and build confidence. It is opportunity to strengthen skills that will be valued for a lifetime.
How can coaching support young teens and children to set goals, to motivate them and to move them forward with their goal setting:
Coaching is an amazing opportunity for teens and children to start a terrific habit at a young age. Holding young people accountable for goal setting will give them a good foundation and head start in effective life skills. It can offer them the encouragement they need to move forward and make progress especially in areas that they struggle in. Coaching can help with self-esteem; self-awareness and most importantly help gain confidence.
Tools or techniques that could be used if coaching a teen or child:
Teens:
- Teens have a lot going on in their lives. Breaking up the different areas of their life into a table will help them build awareness and help them get organized.
- Setting goals in each area of their life will help them move forward with confidence
- Goals are set up in a table or a chart that reflects each teen’s best learning style. Below is one example.
Example Table:
|
GOALS |
School | Friends | Sports | Family | Health | Sleep | Bedroom | Work | Other |
|
Year |
|||||||||
|
90 Day |
|||||||||
|
Weekly |
Weekly Goals:
(examples)
- Workout 3 times this week
ACTION STEPS:
- Schedule time with Mom to pick me up after school from the gym
- Schedule gym time at school: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
- Study for Social Studies test
ACTION STEPS:
- Pull all notes
- Highlight main points
- Create flash cards
- Study for one hour each day: Mon, Tues & Wed
Children:
Children can also use a table to create awareness and get their thoughts organized. While their lives are made up of many more categories then three, keeping it simple is going to help learn the
Example Table:
|
GOALS |
School |
Health | Sports |
|
Monthly |
|||
|
Weekly |
|||
|
Other |
Weekly Goals:
(examples)
- Drink 3 glasses of milk a day
- Learn math facts
- Make flash cards
- Practice for 10 minutes, 4 days a week
What would the coaching process look like to help the teens and children to bring commitment to their goals, to build self-confidence?
CONNECT:
Connect with the teen and or child.
- Ask them how they are doing?
- What they want to work on?
BRAINSTORM & IDEAS:
Create a space for client to brainstorm and share their ideas, dreams, opportunities and challenges
SETTING GOALS:
Committing to goals
EMPOWER:
Acknowledge the client for taking control of their lives
References
Adapted from
www.life123.com/parenting/you
Eric Grossman, Head of School at FJA West Bloomfield, MI (August 2012)
Goal Setting and Self-Efficiacy During Self-Regulated Learning By: Dale H Schunk (1990) www.tandf.co.uk/journals/
Students Achievement Goal Setting: An Option for Connecting Teacher Performance to Academic Performance / Virginia Department of Education / May 2011
The Wall Street Journal March 9, 2011 / Making Kids Work on Goals (And Not Just in Soccer) By Sue Shellenbarger
SMART GOALS - kids in VA Online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704758904578904576188453057819300.html
Schunk, D. H., & Rice, J. M. (1991). Learning goals and progress feedback during reading comprehension instruction. Journal of Reading Behavior, 23, 351–364.
Dr. Laura Markham / Aha Parenting.com http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines