Empowering primary students to create self-set proximal smart goals

By utilizing self-set goals as a learning strategy, primary educators can empower their students to play an active role in the learning process. When effectively implemented, past research shows the process of student goal setting can increase their academic achievements, intrinsic motivation, self-regulated learning, and self-efficacy levels. Goal setting provides students with a sense of purpose which aids in focusing their attention on short-term (proximal) academic tasks. In order for primary students to create proximal goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timelined (SMART), they require scaffolded instruction that establishes and sustains an environment conducive for goal setting. Each of the SMART components not only supports primary students in creating proximal SMART self-set goals, but increases the likeliness of goal attainment. Proximal SMART goals can be integrated within any academic content. This project focuses on improving students' independent reading levels with student set proximal SMART goals. The purpose of the project is to provide primary educators with instructions on how to effectively implement goal setting at the varied developmental level of their young learners. The instruction and contents within the appendix describe how to strategically integrate proximal SMART goal setting with educators’ current adopted reading diagnostic or supplemental assessment.