Using goal setting worksheet printable activities might be just the ticket to start this January with some fun! Coming back after winter break can be a VERY difficult time for teachers, administrators, parents, and students alike. I mean, we finally had a moment to forget, or at least postpone, the rigor and stress of school. So it can be hard to get back into the swing of things.
Thinking about the future always provides me with a little optimism at the beginning of the year. I mean, who doesn’t like setting goals, right?
Every year, I try to set goals in various areas of my life, because I know if I don’t write down my goals and a plan to achieve those goals, I will NEVER achieve what I want to…
This typical, yearly situation is why we MUST teach our students how to make and set goals at different times of the year. Back to school is one of the best times for goal setting worksheet printables, BUT so is after winter break! We have only one semester left after all!
Keep reading below for 11 Growth-Minded Goal Setting Worksheet Printable Activities!
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11 Growth-Minded Goal Setting Worksheet Printable Activities
1. Reflecting on Character
Before we can set specific goals using goal setting worksheet printable activities, we need to reflect on what those goals could realistically, or maybe even unrealistically, look like!
For instance, if you want to teach a bit of character education, you could ask students to think about people in their lives who have “character” or certain valuable traits that they admire. Students can then identify 5-10 traits that a specific person or several people possess that they may want to focus on this year.
In the world we live in today, you might get students who look up to those who don’t deserve such admiration, so showing some videos or film clips beforehand might be a great way to set up this activity!
2. Developing Character Goals
After thinking about desired character traits, students can then choose 3-5 traits they want to develop throughout the year.
I, for example, want to develop more consistency, kindness, and patience in my everyday life. After this reflective piece, you could ask students to visualize and/or write about these traits in a goal setting worksheet printable! Super simple and fun!
3. Defining Education
I think the word “education” gets a bad rap. When students hear “education,” “school,” or “academics,” they might unfortunately get some negative feelings stirring around their brains and hearts.
Instead, I tell my own kiddo that these words simply refer to learning something. And every one of us can afford the time to learn something new throughout the year.
One could get an education in how to play a video game, create a budget, or sing a particular song well. Education is what we make of it! I am learning all of the time, and lifelong learning is the goal for myself, my children, and my students!
Take the time to get your students to write down their own definitions of education and what they might want to get educated about this year! Use this goal setting worksheet printable!
4. Taking Educational Ownership
One of my favorite activities regarding education is to get the students to become their own advocates! You can accomplish this objective in several ways:
- Students can journal about their most proud moments in education.
- Students can visualize the word “education.”
- Students can research their future careers.
- Students can find videos about online courses.
- Students can write about classes they love and struggle in.
Afterward, let students write a goal on the board regarding their “perfect” education. It might not be entirely “academic,” but it doesn’t have to be!
Need some short story ideas for the new year? Click below!
5. Participating in Extracurriculars
When students think of an extracurricular activity, they might believe that it has to be attached to the school in some way like cheerleading, football, or Spanish club. Instead, the word “extracurricular” refers to outside of the classic educational curriculum.
We can encourage students to think outside of the proverbial “school” box when it comes to extracurricular activities.
- What are they interested in?
- What do they like doing?
- What would they do if there were no obstacles?
- What do they participate in already?
On slips of paper, students could write down their favorite activity anonymously. Then, the class could share out loud as a whole group to generate and extend their ideas in this Goal Setting Worksheet Printable!
6. Creating an Extracurricular Course
There was a semipopular movie that came out almost two decades ago called Accepted that epitomized the anti-academic heroes of the world. In this film, students, instead of an institution, got to create and teach the curriculum. And ANYTHING could become the basis for a class.
Let’s be real. Sometimes we learn more from the school of life than from the actual schools we attend.
What if students could create their own extracurricular courses? What might those courses look like? What would various students teach and why?
The extracurricular goal setting worksheet printable in this case might look like the below image!
7. Analyzing Feelings About Reading
Let’s face it. Gone are the days of reading as the only way to get the news, learn how to do something, enjoy a story, etc. There are so many other ways nowadays to attain these goals without looking at a single printed word. We have videos, reels, podcasts, television shows, apps, etc. You could simply listen your way through most of life if you really wanted to.
A lot of children and even many adults don’t read regularly. Usually, it is because they may not have the time, the motivation, and/or the ability to read well. So, recognizing one’s feelings about reading can be super helpful in the reflection process.
Maybe our students love reading, but perhaps they don’t like certain types of texts. One student may enjoy reading articles about sports and lyrics to classic songs. Another student may love comic books and memes. Still, another kid might choose to snuggle up to a novel or poem. Who knows?
All texts, however, are valid and have a valuable place in society.
Get students to rate their feelings about different texts/genres. In the process, they might discover important things about themselves, and you as a teacher might get some insight into your students you may not have suspected! See below for goal setting worksheet printables and digital resources for reading!
8. Getting Students Moving
I am not a marathon runner and I have never aspired to be. Movement, however, is vital to keeping our bodies healthy and even our minds happy.
About nine years ago, I became a walker and never looked back. I love walking and on my walks, I enjoy watching people, listening to podcasts, praying for people, and getting to know my neighborhood.
If you are teaching using a goal setting worksheet printable for physical education or any type of class, you could have students consider how they move around every day and share their ideas with a partner or small group.
By brainstorming with others, they might quickly, and hopefully, realize that moving around does NOT require the formality of joining a running club or becoming a high school athlete!
9. Visualizing Physical Health
There are many schools of thought and a vast array of opinions regarding what it means to be healthy. While no one should in any way be shamed for their current physical state, we also cannot ignore our country’s overall health.
Encouraging students to do their own research is VITAL.
- Challenge students to find articles, podcast episodes, videos, etc. that show what it means to be healthy.
- Then, allow students to discuss their findings with others.
- Provide an opportunity to critically reflect on everything they have learned and locate opposing views.
- Lastly, students can visualize their physical health goals for the year!
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10. Relating to Others Positively
If I had a dime for every negative interaction I daily experience in life, unfortunately, I would be a millionaire. Negativity is EVERYWHERE seeping into our souls and overtaking our relationships.
Instead of allowing it to continue, why not work on improving our various relationships this year?
We have many types of relationships in our lives. We have soulmates, close friends, casual acquaintances, professional colleagues, strangers, etc. And I wish we didn’t have enemies, but they do exist, especially for many of our students.
Why not take the time to ask students about their relationships and use a goal setting worksheet printable for reflecting on growing, changing, or even ending a relationship? A sentence, short paragraph, or even a comic strip is all it takes 🙂
11. Setting New Year’s Resolutions
Celebrate the New Year in style! Guide students in reflecting on, visualizing, and writing about New Year’s Goals in different areas of their lives through goal setting worksheet printable activities!
These areas might include the following:
- Book Reading Goals
- Class Goals
- Financial Goals
- Social Media Goals
- Educational Goals
- Sports Goals
- Job Goals
- Giving Goals
This New Years 2024 Resolution Goal Setting Worksheet Printable Activities Pack provides relevant and easy-to-teach resources to help middle and high school students get back into the swing of things after winter break!
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