A Complete Guide to SMART Goals for Students
byTrey Edgington
8 min to read
Whether your student is about to start a new year with a fresh calendar and a fresh list of New Year’s resolutions, or they have their sights set on summer, it’s always a good time to reflect on past accomplishments and set goals for the days, weeks, and months ahead. Having specific goals can help students stay focused, allowing them to plan their time most effectively.
Experts say it’s much harder to reach goals if they are not written down and expressed clearly, so many families find using “SMART” goals can be a helpful place to get started turning their dreams into reality.
What Is a SMART goal?
SMART stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time bound
While the SMART goal system is well-known in the workplace, it can be an excellent approach for academic and personal goals as well. Following the SMART goal system helps students create a goal that is realistic and includes not only a brief plan of action but also a clearly defined method of evaluating whether or not they were successful in completing their goal.
How to Make SMART Goals
A typical goal for a student might be “I want to get better grades.” Admirable, but not SMART.
Here’s a version that is smarter but not quite SMART: “I will get at least a B in all my math and science classes.”
When a student begins writing a SMART goal, encourage them to think through the process of achieving their goal from beginning to end.
Your child’s written goal may look something like this:
“In each of my math and science classes [specific] this semester [time bound], I will earn at least a grade of B [measurable]. I can do this by taking careful notes in class, asking my teacher for help when a concept is not clear, and seeking a tutor’s assistance if I’m still struggling [attainable]. I won’t play video games or hang out with friends until my homework is completed each night [relevant].”
Be sure to discuss each step along the way. Ask your student to think about what roadblocks they may run into and how they will address that roadblock or prevent it from happening.
Examples of SMART Goals in Education
Students can use SMART goal setting for anything, both in and out of the classroom. However, for students with academic goals, creating an action plan can make all the difference.
Commonly, students use SMART goals to help them overcome an obstacle when it comes to their education.
Students who may not be the best test takers may make it a goal to study more consistently before a test by taking practice exams and getting their sleep habits and stress levels under control if they experience test anxiety.
SMART goals can also help high-achieving students who may want to set their sights on getting accepted into an internship program, dual enroll in college classes, or qualify for the National Honors Society.
Whatever a student’s academic goals, SMART goals can help them get there.
How to Help Students Set SMART Goals
There are a number of ways parents and Learning Coaches can help students turn a vague goal into an actionable plan using the SMART goal process.
1. Let your student come up with their own goals
It’s important that goals come from the child rather than a parent, teacher, or Learning Coach. Choosing their own goals helps ensure that the goal is important to them, and as a result, they may be more naturally motivated to work toward it.
Some students might easily come up with their own goals, but younger students might need a little help. According to Susan Bosak, creator of the Legacy Project, asking the student about what they are studying in school is a good way to help students discover what they are passionate about achieving. This can help kids identify and set long-term goals—even for their future careers—and begin to view school as a way to achieve them.
2. Focus on process, not outcome
While determining a clear outcome—or Measurement—is a key component of SMART goal setting, it is often more helpful for students to focus on the process of achieving their goal rather than the final outcome.
Rather than dwell on letter grades and report cards (particularly if grades were low), encourage your student to consider how they feel about their learning. Was there a topic they were particularly interested in? Did they feel confident when doing schoolwork or taking tests? Is there anything they’d do differently in the coming semester? These discussions can help you and your student work as a team to define relevant goals and the actions that will ultimately lead to different results.
3. Look outside the classroom for SMART goal ideas
SMART goals for students don’t have to be school related. To help create a lifelong habit of goal setting, encourage your child to consider what other areas of their life are important to them. What would they like to accomplish or learn more about? Considering goals related to their extracurriculars, hobbies, or community involvement is a good way to create a well-rounded set of goals going forward.
4. Be a voice of reason when deciding if the goal is attainable
It’s important for students not to forget the “attainable” portion of a SMART goal. If a student has been struggling in English class, it doesn’t make much sense to set a goal of scoring 100% on all future tests and essays right away. Instead, help them break their goal down into something more achievable so they don’t become discouraged if they miss an unrealistic mark. For example, if they want to improve their low grades, perhaps they could set a goal of studying for an hour each day, increasing scores by realistic number, or visiting a tutor once a week.
5. Set up systems that support SMART goals
To help students keep their goals in mind year-round, write the goals on paper or whiteboard near their desk or a common place like the refrigerator. With your encouragement, they will learn that they can accomplish their goals, step by step. This experience not only gives them self-confidence but a framework for success in school, work, and life in general.
Interested in getting more involved in your children’s education this school year? Download our free eGuide to learn more about tuition-free online school, or the Pearson Online Academy website to discover the advantages of online private school.
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