Scholar Speak

Setting Class Goals

Class will go nowhere without proper vision and goals. I've learned this the hard way as a few of my classes have recently waned in their level of zeal and effort. The beginning of the semester begins with lots of zest and grit, but as time ticks away, the energy level can begin to diminish if the kids don't know why they're doing what they're doing.

For example, my entrepreneurship class has had a clear vision of their goal for this semester. They will not only learn all the responsibilities involved in the various roles and assignments found in business, but they will also make as much money as possible by the end of the semester. Tomorrow I plan on meeting together and clarifying this goal (quantifying, making clearer plans, and solidifying measurements), but that's pretty good to start off with. But in health, we never discussed a clear path towards a measurable goal, and it's starting to show. Students slack off on homework or don't feel inclined to participate. So, tomorrow will be goal-setting day all around for my classes.

Goals reflect our vision of what we can accomplish, and I'm a firm believer in working as hard as possible to meet any goal I set. I see the students completely transform when they work towards achieving a goal. They become brighter, more intense, and look to recall any and all information they've learned that might help them. Even better is when they achieve a goal.

So, setting clear, measurable goals right at the beginning of class, is crucial to lasting success. Goals should be posted and mentioned frequently. Also, smaller goals building up to the larger-scale ones can help build confidence, so it's important to include those as well. Our entrepreneurship class has done a stellar job of keeping tabs on our goal - the financial officers create the following graph each day thanks to Wave Accounting :

Nearly doubled sales so far (plus we still have lots of inventory)

Also, here's a shot of our initial investment. We've now sold out of chips (plus nearly 50 more), cookies, and almost everything else. Luckily, the class has agreed to offer healthier options as well. We now stock applesauce and popcorn, which have both done great.