Goals and Action Plans

Why do some students have a goal and 

then never seem to get anywhere? 

Why do simple goals seem to not get accomplished?  

         A goal needs an Action Plan. Students need a plan of action to get to their goal. Sounds simple and here are the steps to make it happen:
           Let's say, for example, Freddie states he keeps forgetting assignments, can't find them, loses things, etc... A discussion finds that Freddie needs to clean out his backpack and organize papers into the correct binders and folders and get rid of trash, crumpled papers and old notes.
           Here is Freddie's Action Plan:

                    Goal: Getting Organized 

                    Action Plan: Clean Out My Back Pack 
                             Step One: Dump everything out
                             Step Two: Sort everything into two piles, Keep and Throw Away
                             Step Three: Everything that is "Keep" will be put into the correct binder, folder, or   notebook.
                            Step Four: Throw the other stuff away
                            Step Five: Use a homework or assignment folder to keep papers in until I get home to organize papers in the proper places.

              Another action plan might be to clean out the locker! Keep the action plan simple. Once students get the idea that a goal requires an action plan they can easily write their own and move in the direction of accomplishing their goals.

Use Perfection to Teach Organizational Skills

 Teach Students Organizational Skills and 

Have Fun Doing It!!!

Perfection by Hasbro is a great game to teach organizational skills!  There are two types of Perfection: one with 9 pieces and one with twenty-five pieces.  The game is played with a timer and the object is to get all the pieces on the board within the specified amount of time.  If not, the gameboard pops up with the pieces!  Time is up!  

To teach children organizational skills try this with Perfection!:

Game One:  Let the student play the game normally.  Chances are if it is his first time he will not beat the timer.  Then discuss ways to beat the timer.  What could you do differently?  Let the student come up with several ideas.  Relate his answers to being organized with homework, classwork, and projects.  

Game Two:  The student will now play the game with his idea for organizing the pieces.  Did his strategy work?  Does he have any different or new ideas for doing better?  Again, relate the play to organizing homework, classwork,and projects.   Let the student try his new idea!

Game Three: The student plays the game with a new strategy.  This time the student will probably beat the timer.  Relate the ideas for organizing to how one organizes supplies, paper, pencils, markers, planner, etc.  Is organizing cheating?  No!  Getting organized makes our work simpler and more efficient! 

Check out other great game ideas at www.counselorgames.com!