Making Goals

Middle school can be a stressful transition for children, and going from mainstream school to an alternative school can be an emotional event for students to face. A good way to ensure children are using their power to take control of their lives would be asking them to create a list of goals. For example, a middle schooler’s goal may be to get a B in a math class. In order for that student to get a good grade, they should organize a schedule to set aside time for studying each night. If the child gets stuck on a problem or does not understand a concept, he/she can ask the teacher for help the next day.

Setting aside time to make goals happen, like practicing, is crucial 

Another example of setting a specific goal could be wanting to make a sports team at school. In order to do so, the student would need to make time in his/her schedule for practicing for the sport, as well as keeping track of tryout days, so he/she would know when training should be completed. Making children set up basic goals like these examples will force them to utilize time-management skills.

Goal-setting plays a vital role in success. The ability to conceptualize an achievement, recognize steps needed to reach it, and executing those steps is a complex process a middle schooler may not know how to approach. However, allowing students to recognize the importance of personal objectives can increase their self-monitoring and achievements. A foundational tool in goal setting is a goal worksheet.

A template for what a goal sheet could look like 

Creating a goal worksheet for students to fill out can inspire a conscious motivation to do well and work hard. Writing out and conceptualizing ambitions can make them appear more attainable. Have a student write out their goal to being organized. Second, have him/her expand on the goal with an action plan such as listing the steps he/she will take to reach the goal and the people the individual will look to for support. Finally, have the child explain how he/she will reach their goal. Explanation of steps makes the goal more concrete and reachable. Scheduling check-ins with goal progress will also hold the student accountable for keeping track of their goal.

While a goal worksheet is an effective tool in inspiring middle schoolers to reach their goals, other ways to do so include having students keep “goal journals”. In a goal journal, a student would keep track of how their goal is going by documenting their actions three to five days a week. Having a goal journal could also help with organization of thoughts and ambitions, which I will be expanding upon in my next post. Help children make and achieve their goals, and thanks for reading!

Organizational Skills

Organization is an important skill to focus on and adapt with as a student begins middle school, and it is a skill that will need to be kept and grown throughout the rest of the student’s life. The school setting is an important place to plant the seed of management; however, that skill can be transferred everywhere in the child’s life, whether in the home, in an extracurricular activity, or in a team or club.

Having a fun homework folder will ensure folder use

Ensuring organization in students can be done through setting routines for themselves. Having a routine schedule creates predictability, which will ease stress and add some structure to life. For example, a student setting their backpack in the same place every night so it’s easy to find in the morning can be helpful. Having a specific “homework” folder for homework assignments can be helpful, too, so they can keep track of the work they have not done yet as well as the work they completed. Finally, encouraging an agenda/planner and insisting a student to fill it out and keep track of tasks can be a foundational tool for success and organizational skills.

An example of what a child's weekly planner could look like 

To conclude this post, I’d like to point out routine-building as an effective tool in getting middle schoolers to begin their organizational skills. Basic organization will lead to more detailed steps within the tasks they are already performing, and will grow and expand to other aspects of their lives. Other helpful interventions for children’s organization in the school setting include goal-setting and personal self-evaluation sheets which I will expand upon in the following posts. For more more tips for middle school organization, click here. Thanks for reading!