Goal Setting Update

Just this week I found out that three articles I recently wrote about goal setting were published as a series on Education World. I felt honored that Ed World accepted them because I've recommended their website for years and I think it's a great resource. The series is called Goal Setting 101 and it starts with the article called Understanding the Process.

Now for my own goal setting project . . . it looks like our Smartboard is definitely within reach! We have $920 in actual donations and about $300 in money that has been pledged to us. The Smartboard will be about $1050, so as soon a little more money is in I can arrange for one to be ordered. We still have to raise money for an Elmo and an LCD projector, but in the meantime I'm borrowing equipment from the media center. I'm so excited, and I know my students will be excited when we have enough money in our account to pay for the Smartboard. We've been having fun with an Air Liner slate in the meantime, but it can be unreliable and difficult to use.

What's interesting is that the goal-setting process my class followed was the exact process I described in Goal Setting 101. We set our class goal of getting a Smartboard and came up with an action plan. We decided to call our project Smartboards 4 Smart Kids and put up a webpage where people could donate with credit cards. The kids also made posters and talked to their parents and other family members about the project. We visualized having a Smartboard in our room, and we had faith that the money would be donated. It really works! I love the fact that my students are learning that when you set a goal for yourself and believe in it, your dreams really can come true!