Revive your child's school year with these goal-setting tips from expert and educator Susan V. Bosak.
Write a goal letter. Children should identify something they'd like to learn more about or get better at, learn how to do, or a fear they'd like to overcome. With the help of a parent or teacher, they write a goal letter that includes what they want to do, why they want to do it, the specific steps to get it, and a specific date to achieve the goal.
Develop a learning pedge together that children sign. Include items like listening better in class, asking the teacher questions when they don't understand material or an assignment, taking a few extra minutes to double-check homework before handing it in, and starting to study for a test at least three days beforehand.
Create a Hallway of Dreams at home. Feature your children's name(s) on a star – you may also include a photo. On three smaller yellow stars hanging from the large star, encourage each child to write a goal for the 2009 school year. This can be a personal goal for something they would like to be or do when they get older, and a dream for our world. Hang the stars in your home's hallway (or on your child's bedroom door) to remind kids of their goals and inspire them for the New Year.
Help children create a "Better Me" list. This list can be made of things kids can do on a regular basis to improve themselves and build character. These might include reading one new book a week, writing in a daily journal or writing to a long-distance grandparent once a month, studying an extra 15 minutes a day, helping a younger brother or sister with homework. Post the list in a prominent location.
Create a Dream Chest. To help them discover who they are and their dreams, children can decorate a cardboard box to create a Dream Chest. Children can fill the Dream Chest through the New Year with anything that interests or inspires them, such as newspaper and magazine articles, images, cartoons or quotations. Parents and teachers can discuss and help children discover patterns in the items in their Dream Chest.
Encourage children to choose a Historical Hero. This person can be an interesting historical figure who can serve as a role model. Make it a project to learn more about him or her over the upcoming year.
Set a Dream Time every week. Read inspiring books aloud together and discuss them. What interests kids? What inspires them? What questions does a book spark? What more can children find out?
Susan Bosak serves as Chair of the national Legacy Project, an education initiative with the nonprofit Parenting Coalition and Generations United in Washington, DC.
There are free online Begin and End With a Dream ideas and activities parents and teachers can use at legacyproject.org.
