When we ask students to think about their goals and dreams in life, many times you get general statements without a feasible plan to accomplish them. Reinforcing the specific characteristics in creating SMART goals will help students form an outline to achieve their goals. After covering the different aspects of SMART goals, students will fill in a digital worksheet to clearly explain each step towards achieving their goal!
| S | Specific |
|---|---|
| M | Measurable |
| A | Action |
| R | Realistic |
| T | Time |
Goals should be specific. Eliminating vague desired outcomes will help focus the next steps. Goals should be measurable. How will you know when your goal is achieved? Action is the next aspect. What do you have to do in order to reach your goal. Realistic is the fourth part of a SMART goal. Is your goal doable? Finally, the last aspect is time. How much time will you need to achieve your goal.
Also check out the version of SMART goals for business.
Click to find many more goals worksheets. You can add as many templates as you like for students to do more than one digital worksheet if they finish early, or to differentiate to meet the needs of all students.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a SMART Goal for yourself and fill each section of the digital worksheet to help you achieve it!
Student Instructions
Encourage students to share their SMART goals in small groups or with the whole class. Model active listening and ask guiding questions to spark reflection and feedback.
Teach students to use sentence starters like, "I like how you made your goal specific because…" or "Have you thought about how to measure…?". Emphasize honest praise and gentle suggestions for improvement.
Showcase a few sample goals on the board or screen. Highlight what makes each one specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. This helps students visualize strong goal statements.
Ask students to revisit and update their worksheets based on peer and teacher feedback. Encourage small tweaks to make goals clearer or more achievable.
Schedule brief check-ins weekly or monthly for students to share updates on their goals. Celebrate small successes to boost motivation and accountability.
A SMART goal in the classroom is a student goal that is Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-oriented. This framework helps students create clear, achievable plans for their learning objectives.
To use digital worksheets for goal setting, guide students to fill out each section of the worksheet using the SMART goal method. They should outline their goal, how they'll measure success, steps to achieve it, why it's realistic, and a timeline for completion.
Examples of student SMART goals include: "Read 5 books by the end of the semester," "Improve math grade to a B by next report card," or "Complete all homework assignments on time for a month." Each goal is specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound.
Setting specific and measurable goals helps students focus their efforts, track progress, stay motivated, and experience success. It turns vague intentions into actionable plans, increasing the likelihood of achievement.
The best way to differentiate digital goal setting worksheets is to provide multiple templates, allow students to set personalized goals, and offer support or scaffolding as needed. This helps meet the needs of all learners and encourages meaningful participation.