Hopes and Dreams for the New School Year {A way to set goals}

Do you ever have one of those days?

When you've been running around like crazy.

Cleaning handprints from the walls, washing spit up off your own clothes (and of course, your baby's as well), running errand after errand after errand.

Then you suddenly realize at, like, 9:45 p.m., that you told your sister you would post something today!  HA!

Been there.  Actually, I am there, right now.

Sorry for the delay, and I really wanted to share this earlier, however, my day just kept slipping away from me.

Today I am posting about goals.  Natalie brought up the fact that you should set some goals with your kids as they go back to school, if they haven't already.  I think that even if your kids have started school, you should still set goals.  You hear all the time that if you don't write it down, it will most likely not happen.  So write them down.

I love having goals to work toward.  Sometimes, children don't feel like setting specific goals (i.e. I will tie my shoes, I will read 20 min. each night) and so I like to use the hopes and dreams method of setting goals.  These become something that a child hopes, dreams, or wishes of accomplishing, or doing in the school year.  Children are really receptive to this way of making goals for what they want from the school year.

At the beginning of each school year, as a teacher, I would have all of my students write down their hopes and dreams.  Now, I am suggesting that parents and their children do this as well.  These hopes and dreams do NOT have to revolve only around school, though, it is important to include academic, social, and emotional/or maturity goals(i.e. tying their own shoe, doing their own hair, controlling anger, etc).

Before you sit down with your kids to map out their hopes and dreams for the new school year, make sure that you jot down some things that you hope and dream for you and your kids.  This will help you when it comes time to brainstorm with your children about their hopes and dreams.  Sometimes we can push gently nudge our kids in the right direction.  Especially if they are younger.  The younger your kids are, the more involved you will need to be in helping them develop their hopes and dreams for the new school year.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you sit down to make your own hopes and dreams.
1.  What do you feel will be most important for your child in school this year?
2.  In what ways would you like to see your child grow socially?
3.  In what ways would you like to see your child grow academically?
4.  In what ways would you like to see your child grow emotionally/in maturity?

Now write down your goals.  Got it.  I wouldn't want you to forget. :)

Once you have written down your hopes and dreams for the year, print out the Hopes and Dreams printable. 

Call your children to the table and tell them that they will all be making hopes and dreams for the new year.  Next, if you have children PreK-2nd, read the book School Days, by B.G. Hennessy to them.  After reading, look back at the pictures and have your child(ren) point out things that they hope to do or dream about being able to accomplish this upcoming year.  If you have children 3rd-12th, you may choose to skip the book and have a discussion about what types of things they think will happen for them in the school year and what they really hope and dream about accomplishing.

After you have been brainstorming with them, share your hopes and dreams for the year as well.  This will let your child know that you are vested in their education.  You care.  You even have hopes, dreams, and desires for them.  Then, help them write down what they hope and dream about.  They can illustrate it or not, depending on your child.  Some children really need to see it and read it.  You know your child best.  If they are too old for the printable, just have them write it on a piece of notepad paper.

In case you were wondering, boys might like to make out their hopes and dreams while sitting on the table.  It's just something that they do.  :)

Such concentration requires your tongue to be out.

We displayed our hopes and dreams in the dining room.

Sometimes their hopes and dreams might not come true.  In this case, my daughter is really hoping that her class will have a pet.  It probably won't come true, however, it was her hope and we wrote it down.

I helped heavily with my 3 year old.

Lest you think you are finished, please, read on.  One more thing to make this stick with your kids.  Display their hopes and dreams.  In a common area of your home.  The kitchen, dining room, living room, office.  You pick, and then hang them up.  This way, you can revisit their hopes and dreams throughout the year.  You can see how they are doing.  Check in on them.  Make sure to take stock in your own hopes and dreams from time to time.  Are you helping your children the best you can to accomplish their dreams?  Are you helping yourself?