With the Holiday season approaching, along with a much-needed break, students, teachers, and faculty are all looking forward to different things: enjoying time spent with the family, getting some much-needed rest, and much more. Oftentimes, we forget that by the time the holiday break ends, and everyone makes their return to school, that we are in a new year!
Through all the stress of the weeks leading up to the holidays, and then the stress of the actual holidays and everything that comes along with them, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the arrival of a new year is a great time for setting goals!
Setting Your Goals
When we hear the phrase, "setting goals," we often think big: things like life or career goals that might take more than what we could accomplish in the remaining months of the school year. One way to enforce positivity and increase the likelihood of accomplishment is by setting goals that are attainable from the get-go. Teachers, faculty, students, and even parents can use the "SMART" method when coming up with a few goals to work on to kick off 2023!
S - Specific
One of the first steps in coming up with a goal is to have something specific in mind. What specifically do you want to be better at? Outlining something specific, rather than just saying you "want to improve," will help you stay focused.
M - Measurable
Another aspect of your goal setting process should be finding a way you can measure your progress. Focus on incorporating measurable or even trackable benchmarks.
A - Achievable
Far too often, we set goals that are too big. This isn't to say you can't have big goals, but instilling more achievable goals along the way will help motivate and propel you to bigger achievements.
R - Relevant
Relevancy is key in goal setting, and asking yourself the "Why?" is just as important as everything else. Base your smaller goals around bigger goals that will help you get to the place you want to be. This is the part where you want to think about the bigger picture!
T – Time-bound
Finally, a healthy aspect of goal creation is keeping time in mind. Maybe you have something small you want to accomplish each week, or before the next school break! This will help keep your goals consistently fresh and accomplishable.
Have a Goal in Mind?
If you have a goal for your students or classroom in mind for 2023, but might need some funding for additional supplies or projects as a whole, check out CCEF's grant programs! Applications for Impact Grants, which can award up to $2,500, will be open for submission until January 31st, and Rapid Grants, which can award up to $500, are open to apply for year-round!