Goal Setting:

There are twelve SMART goals that people set depending on what they want to accomplish. They are: 

• Personal goals 
• Leadership
• Learning
• Career
• Team management 
• Strategy 
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Project management
• Stress management 
• Communication
• Creativity, 

I will write about each of them in the next twelve weeks. 

Let’s start by talking about “Personal Goals”

First consider what you want to achieve in the next 5 years. This is your big picture goal. Once you have identified it, start breaking it down into smaller and smaller tasks. Then commit to it by writing it down in a spiral notebook. Write the words “My Goal Setting Plan” on the first page. Start by writing down your SMART goals. Create a timeline. As you achieve them, cross them off.

SMART goals are: 

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

Example: I want to become a teacher in the next five years.

1. Identify what age group you would like to work with.
   1. If you want to work with middle school or high school students, what subject interests you the most? Learn as much as you can about that subject.
   2. If you like to work with younger children, involve yourself in activities that allow you to familiarize yourself with younger children’s needs, interests, and thinking.
2. Graduate from High School 
3. Attend college
   1. You can take general requirement courses in a community college and then transfer to a four-year college.
   2. Take college classes that will earn you a teaching certificate.
      1. If you are planning to teach a subject matter course, consider taking a minor in this subject area. 
      2. If you are planning to teach younger children, consider taking a minor in child development. 
      3. Take foreign classes that will allow you some fluency in a language other than English. 
   3. As part of your requirements for obtaining a teaching certificate you will be required to Student Teach. Take this time to evaluate your decision to teach. Is this the right age group for you? Is this the right setting for you? Is this the right subject area for you? 
4. Take the state exams, if required in your state, to attain your teaching license. 
5. Apply for a teaching position. 
   1. Practice your interview skills prior to going on your first interview. 

Each one of these steps has a specific course of action and is definitely Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant to your goal and is Time-bound.

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Marty Lashenick

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