Goal-setting is an essential life skill, and what better time to start than in elementary school? Teaching kids how to set and achieve goals not only helps them accomplish things they’re excited about, but also builds their confidence, perseverance, and problem-solving skills.
In this post, we’ll explore fun and creative ways to introduce goal-setting to young learners. Whether it’s a big dream like scoring their first touchdown or a smaller goal like keeping their desk tidy, setting goals can be a powerful tool for kids to feel proud of their progress and celebrate their successes.
Let’s dive into some practical strategies and activities that make goal-setting engaging and meaningful for little learners. With the right approach, kids will see that with effort and determination, they can achieve just about anything!
9 Steps to Teaching Goal-Setting
To teach my students how to set and achieve their goals, I created this lesson that breaks the process down into 9 simple steps. This method makes the goal-setting process less overwhelming for students and offers them concrete action steps to take!
- Brainstorm. Make a list of your strengths, areas of growth, hopes, and dreams.`
- Choose. Which goal would you most like to achieve? Make sure it is realistic (not TOO hard!)
- Be clear. Make your goal clear. It should be specific so you understand exactly what you are working towards.
- Break it down. Break down your goal into smaller steps. This makes it easier to work on and track progress, without getting overwhelmed.
- Set a timeline. Think about how long it will take you to achieve your goal. Pick an “end” date that works for you!
- Measure progress. Track your progress. Try a simple chart, a to-do list, or a journal.
- Celebrate wins. Celebrate and reward yourself as you take small steps towards your goal!
- Think positive. Keep a positive attitude. Take ownership of your goal. Even when things get hard, don’t give up!
- Achieve it! It’s time to celebrate – you achieved your goal! Reflect on your hard work and be proud!
To help kiddos create a concrete plan of action that they can start on right away, I use these worksheets that walk them through each of the 9 steps. They’re perfect for use with our upper elementary friends!
Goal-Setting in the New Year
Goal-setting is an important topic to teach all year long, but New Years is an especially relevant time to do so! Just like us, our students are excited about a fresh start and opportunity to achieve their dreams.
To help them do so, I created this New Years Lesson. It let’s kids reflect on 2024 and explore their social-emotional learning goals, resolutions, hopes, and dreams for the new year. My favorite part of the lesson is this “New Year, Better ME!” craft. Upper elementary friends love decorating the kid to look like them, and filling out the lines of the poem to start their new year on the right track!
Story Books That Teach Goal-Setting
If you know me, you know that story books are my favorite way to introduce and reinforce learning.
Here are 6 of my favorite books that teach goal-setting:
- “The Magical Yet” by Angela Di’Terlizzi
- “Ambitious Ninja” by Mary Nhin
- “I Can’t Do That, Yet” by Esther Pie Cordova
- “The Little Book of Setting Goals” by Zack Bush
- “I Can Do Hard Things” by Gabi Garcia
- “I Choose to Try Again” by Elizabeth Estrada
And here are reviews of a few of my favorites!
“I Can Do Hard Things” by Gabi Garcia
“I Can Do Hard Things” is a gem of a book that gently empowers children to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. The story is simple yet profound, using relatable situations to teach kids that even when things feel tough, they have the inner strength to handle them.
What makes this book special is its focus on mindfulness and self-talk. It encourages children to pause, breathe, and remind themselves, “I can do this.” It’s perfect for sparking conversations about goal-setting, resilience, self-esteem, self-confidence, and mindfulness in a supportive way.
The illustrations are bright, inclusive, and engaging, showcasing a diverse group of children facing everyday challenges. Garcia’s affirming language makes the book feel like a warm hug, reminding kids (and even adults!) that it’s okay to feel uncertain or overwhelmed sometimes.
“I Can’t Do That, Yet” by Esther Pie Cordova
“I Can’t Do That, Yet” is an inspiring and heartwarming book that encourages kids to embrace a growth mindset. In the book, Enna falls asleep and “meets” her future self who shows her the infinite possibilities of dreams she could achieve and become as she grows up. Enna learns that just because she can’t do something right now doesn’t mean she won’t be able to in the future.
The story is beautifully written, with a relatable message that encourages children to believe in their potential and keep trying, even when something feels hard.
What I love most about this book is how it shifts the focus from “I can’t” to “I can’t yet,” teaching kids that mistakes and challenges are part of learning and growing. It’s a perfect conversation starter for parents, educators, and caregivers who want to help children build confidence and resilience towards achieving their goals.
“I Choose to Try Again” by Elizabeth Estrada
“I Choose to Try Again” is a beautiful and uplifting book that teaches children the power of perseverance and a positive attitude. It tells the story of a little girl who, when things get hard, feels afraid to try again out of fear of failure or teasing from her peers. Then, her friend teaches her that when we choose to keep trying and believe in ourselves, we can do anything! She makes a promise to herself to keep working hard on her goals and to never say, “I can’t” or call something “too hard.”
This story is so relatable for kids and its message is simple but impactful: success comes from effort, resilience, and learning from challenges. The story empowers kids to face setbacks with courage and determination.
What I love most is how the book normalizes failure as part of the journey toward growth. It encourages kids to say, “I choose to try again” instead of giving up, making it a perfect tool for teaching a growth mindset.
I hope that this post offered practical tools, ideas, and resources that you can use to teach goal-setting to your students. You never know, you could be the one that inspires your students to reach for the stars!
