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SMART Goals - Trimester 1

What are SMART goals?

These are goals that are designed by students in consultation with the teacher with the ultimate aim of improving a student’s learning . The goals evolve as the  trimester progresses.


What does SMART stand for?

Specific     

Measurable      

Achievable     

Realistic     

Time related


How do parents know that students have achieved their SMART goals?

Students collect evidence to show that they have achieved their goals each trimester. They write a reflection on how this piece of evidence (for example, paper, project, test) shows they have achieved their goal. This evidence will be placed in the student's portfolio to show parents during the Student-led Conferences in Trimester 3.


How are S.M.A.R.T goals used in each core content classes?


  • Math:


Social Studies


US History is working towards successful note taking during lectures/discussions.  Students take notes from their History textbook, and these are generally followed by a lecture/discussion that augments their knowledge. A responsible student will make connections in appropriate places, transfer information from the white board and ensure that explanations are combined into their notebook. The goal of the notes is to assist in reviewing for quizzes/tests at home. These quite often assess the level of content retained on a weekly basis.  Notes are not only valuable for Social Studies, but they will ensure that in higher level courses, students will develop more enhanced self directed learning strategies.

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Pre Algebra
 
All students are working on PEMDAS (Parenthasis Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction) and showing all their working in the appropriate format. Students are expected to adhere to this 100%. We want to make sure that a sound foundation is laid for their move into Algebra. Once the fundamentals are well entrenched individual goals will follow.

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Algebra


One of the major problems that students experienced on coming into Algebra was Percentages. Percentages  incorporate mathematical concepts such as fractions, decimals and basic operations.

The problem with percentages served to structure our SMART goals for the 1st trimester.

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Students in Algebra have set a SMART goal of achieving at least 90% [A-]  on all assessments dealing with Percentages by the end of the 1st trimester.

We have also added on the Distributive Property as one of our Trimester 1 SMART goals. Students have decided to aspire for a minimum grade of 90% on all assessments dealing with the Distributive Property.

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Geometry


Presentation is being emphasized  and enforced as part of the grade with immediate effect. These students have a solid foundation but make mistakes due to haste or sloppiness. Personal goals for each student will follow as soon as presentation is consistent.

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Science

In Physical Science we started off the year with the scientific method and one of the areas of emphasis was on writing of Lab Reports in keeping with IB standards and requirements. Students experienced difficulty in some aspects of the Lab. Reporting format and as a result this drove our SMART goal formulation for the 1st trimester.

Students were asked to set a percentage goal for themselves with regards to Lab Reporting. There was general consensus among all 8th graders that their SMART goal would be to achieve at least 95% [ A ], on all Lab. Reports and assessments by the end of the 1st trimester.

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English


The students write SMART goals based on the learning objectives of the unit of study. They write a goal if their assessment in that objective is below satisfactory for them. Satisfactory for most students is above 85%, although they set their own realistic percentage. Students are working on three to five SMART goals during a trimester.

For the Trimester 1 unit of study, with a literature focus on short stories, the objectives are the following:

Students will

  • understand what an excellent summary is and practice writing an excellent summary
  • know and understand the definitions of selected literary terms and be able to apply them
  • read with understanding and reread if necessary
  • listen, learn from and contribute to class discussions
  • know and understand the literary terms for plot line and be able to apply them
  • self edit and peer edit for Conventions using the Middle School Proofreading checklist
  • answer questions on literature in-depth and with evidence
  • understand the 6 Traits scale of Ideas and organization and rate writing using the scale

So a particular student may write a SMART goal that says:


  • SAMPLE A: I will read with understanding and reread if necessary so that I can achieve a “plus” on my reading comprehension quiz.


  • SAMPLE B: I will know and understand the definition of literary terms and be able to apply them so that I can receive an 85% or above in the post test section on literary terms.


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