The Funky Monkeys Got Goal-Setting DOWN!

Goal –setting was a great way to start off our year! We began by writing down our hopes and dreams for the school year.  These special “goals” were placed in a time capsule which we will open on the last day of school. Then we read the inspirational book Wilma Unlimited. Students were able to identify not only long term goals Wilma made but short term goals as well. When we finally watched Adam Page’s video we were ready for his challenge!

Students were given the task of creating a goal for home, school and friendship. We discussed how goals needed to be reasonable and measureable. Students were asked, “How would you know you have met your goal?”. A sheet was created for this work using a staircase as a way to connect short term goals and long term goals. My students responded extremely well to this metaphor.  Table teams shared their goals with one another in small discussion groups refining their work and inspiring one another. Each student crafted at least 3 goals if not more! Students were supported during this task with editing and revising their goals. Goals are kept in our work folders so that we could check in and see how we are progressing from time to time.

Perhaps the most significant part of this challenge was the visit from Adam Page and Steve Mesler. Students shared their goals and were given great advice on how to meet them. After our gold medal winning visitors left students wrote in their journals about how the visit will impact their ability to meet their goals. It was a great start to Classroom Champions in my Funky Monkey classroom!

The following CCS Standards were met during goal-setting:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1.A
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.5 (HTTP://WWW.CORESTANDARDS.ORG/ELA-LITERACY/W/2/5/)

With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.