Goal Setting for Teachers

How can you set goals as a teacher?

If you are anything like me, then you set goals for yourself. When it comes to my goals, I tend to set lofty ones, and I often set too many. I end up being hard on myself when I don’t meet them, and I am sometimes left feeling defeated, almost like I haven’t accomplished much at all. This can apply to goals in teaching, fitness, family, and more. Sometimes with my goal setting, I aim high, usually looking too far into the future, which can be a real problem. It can cause me to skip over the present, making me lose sight of all the “baby-step goals” that I need to accomplish in order to meet the ultimate long-term goal.

Think of baby-step goals as the step-by-step plan for reaching the “big-picture goal.” My big-picture goal may be to lose 20 pounds, but my baby-step goal for today might be to walk for 30 minutes. Another big-picture goal could be to have all students in my class reading on grade level by the end of the year, while today’s baby-step goal might be to implement a strategy to help Johnny learn the basic sight words he has been struggling with.

When I think of goal setting in education, I can't help but consider the lofty long-term goals and the stress they cause teachers. Reflecting on my goals as a teacher, I recall all the grand goals set over the years. Often, someone else set those lofty goals for me, which is why I always felt so stressed. It was up to me to figure out how to meet those goals.

Having baby-step goals can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially as a teacher. Teaching can be overwhelming and stressful, and many days we leave feeling like we worked hard but barely made any progress toward the big-picture goal. The problem is, you can't see and appreciate the present because you are so focused on the future. Sometimes, we need to "stop and smell the roses."

And that's where sticky notes come in.

It's a bright idea that helps me focus on the present.

Each week, when you are making your lesson plans, take a minute to think of one "baby-step goal" for that day. For example, on Monday, maybe you want to make sure you meet with your low readers for 30 minutes. You can write the goal on a sticky note and place it with the plans for that day. On Tuesday, you might set a baby-step goal to pull five kids in math to review multiplication.

Remember that those baby-step goals are both factors in helping you meet the "big-picture" goals. For instance, pulling low readers is a baby-step goal that will help you reach the big-picture goal of having all kids on grade level by the end of the year. Similarly, reviewing multiplication with five kids helps work toward the goal of getting 100% of your students on grade level.

Once you accomplish your daily baby-step goal, you can throw the sticky note away, leave it in place in your plans, or keep a journal of all your accomplishments. By the end of the week, you will have met five goals. By the end of the month, you will have met around 25 goals. By the end of the year, you will have met 180 goals. That's a lot of sticky notes to reflect on! It's something to be proud of.

Why just one goal a day? I know I can do more than that.

You are not just accomplishing one thing each day. You might accomplish ten things or more. That's great! The idea behind this sticky note goal-setting plan is to start each day with one goal, one thing you want to make sure you accomplish, and then walk out each day having met that goal. It's a way for you to feel accomplished and leave work each day knowing that you achieved what you set out to do. That's a good feeling!

So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at your lesson plans, grab some sticky notes, and start setting a daily goal.

And here's something else wonderful about this goal-setting activity. If you get to the end of the year and don't have 100% of your kids on grade level (after all, you knew they set an unrealistic goal for you to begin with), you will still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

Sticky notes for goal setting? Yep! It's so easy and worthwhile.

OH! And here is something else wonderful about this little goal-setting activity. If you get to the end of the year and you don't have 100% of your kids on grade level (after all, you knew they set an unrealistic goal for you to begin with), you will still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

Thank you for visiting my TpT store for great lesson ideas.

Elementary Lesson Plans TpT Store

Brain Breaks Video

Fun Brain Breaks Activity

Brain breaks are essential for kids because they help improve focus, reduce stress, and boost overall productivity. Short, regular breaks allow students to refresh their minds, preventing mental fatigue and promoting better concentration when they return to learning tasks. These breaks also provide an opportunity for physical movement, which can enhance cognitive function and emotional well-being. By incorporating brain breaks into their daily routine, kids can maintain higher levels of engagement and enthusiasm for learning, leading to a more effective and enjoyable educational experience.

Do you have fidgeting kids? Do you need to take a moment to let them get their wiggles out? Maybe it's time for a brain break!

Sometimes, if you just allow students a few minutes to get their energy out with a "brain break," they will become better listeners and learners once you start the lesson back up. I created a little video that takes no preparation. Just click play and let your kids have a few minutes to move their body. Brain breaks are a great way to improve the mood of you and your students. After all, it can be quite entertaining to see kids move and groove, bend and reach, and skip in place. There is also lots of humor to be found when the teacher joins in. But, the best part is they can get a little break and then get back to the lesson. There are two options for watching the video. You can watch it right here via YouTube, or you can download it from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Brain Breaks Video

If you would prefer to download it from my store, just click this link: Brain Breaks

Classroom Library Poster

I can't believe it's already FALL! 
Actually, I didn't even know yesterday was the first day of Fall until my 4 year old informed me.  That's right!  My preschooler.It went something like this... 
I was sitting out in the back yard while my little guy was playing in his sand box.  Keep in mind the temp was the high 80's here in Georgia. He looks over at the fire pit and asks, "Can we build a fire?"  I was like, "Are you kidding, it's hot out here!"  Of course he asked again... and again!  You know how that goes.  My next comment was, "We need to wait til Fall!"  His eyes got wide as he said, "It is FALL!!"  Oh my.... I mean, I knew Fall was nearing, but I didn't know it was already here. :-)  I was like, "How do you know that?" His response, "We put it on our calendar at school today." My first thought was, "Crap!  We can NOT build a fire!!  (haha).  My second thought was, "YES! He is a good listener at school!"  He always keeps me on my toes.
In case you are wondering...no fire! I know... bad mommy!  We  ended up having a good conversation about the temperature and how it really was not a good time to build a fire, and he was okay with that. Soon though!! He is an understanding little guy.
But, it is Fall Y'all.... so, with that in mind, I hope you can use this fun little fall reading poster I made. Perfect for your classroom library. Just click the link below.  Just trim it down, pop it in a frame, and place it in your reading center.  If you have a bookshelf in your classroom library, place it right on top. Or, don't use a frame at all.  Just laminate and hang. Your kids will love it, and it just might inspire them. Enjoy!
Classroom Library FALL READING POSTER - click here

Thank you for visiting my blog.  For fun and creative lesson ideas, please visit my store by clicking the link below.
Click HERE for Elementary Lesson Plans 

Ice Breaker Activities for the First Day of School

Ice Breaker for Back to School

Ice breaker activities can help make your students feel more comfortable. If you are like me, you know the feeling of uneasiness that comes along with walking into a room full of people you don't know.  I ran into that at the recent Teachers Pay Teachers Conference in Vegas. It was  800 people I had never met, and although I warmed up to everyone, it took some mingling to help make that happen.

Mingling is a great way for your students to get to know each other on the first day of school.  I have used lots of different ice breaker activities over the years, one of which is the 'get to know your classmates scavenger hunt'.  It's a fun activity, but many of the kids have done it before.  In an effort to change it up a little, I came up with my version, which is called Bubble Gum Buddies.  It's the same concept, but it's bubble gum themed and the kids get to chew gum while they walk around. I also included a version without gum chewing just in case anyone was forbidden to have gum in the classroom. Bummer if that is the case! Keep in mind that it's only about 25 minutes of gum chewing and bubble blowing, so it's not too big of a deal. Have your camera ready because it is going to make for some cute pictures.

Get this fun Ice Breaker Activity by clicking HERE

You can also find the ice breaker activity in my back-to-school bundled activity pack for upper elementary. It has 15 activities to choose from at a reduced price.

Click HERE for the Back to School Pack

Guest Blog Post for Laura Candler's Corkboard Connections

Calling all Laura Candler fans!! If you are like me, you have been a fan of hers for years. With that said, I am sure you can imagine how honored I was to write a guest blog post for her Corkboard Connections blog. The post is now live and ready for you to enjoy. It's a positively fun post with tips on how to  bring smiles to your classroom.  You can check it out by clicking the link below. There is a freebie  download included in the post. 
 After reading it, take a moment to look around her blog and Teaching Resources website where you will find many other great teaching ideas. She has lots of  printable resources, some of which are free. Enjoy!
Guest Post:  5 Ways to Make Your Students Smile

If you are interested in having me guest post on your blog, I am always open for the invitation. Just send me an email using the link on the sidebar and we can discuss the details.