Goal Setting with Pictures

Thanks to Sarah Lynn at the 2015 COABE Conference for sharing this idea!

Purpose: One of the self-management goals in the Transitions Integration Framework is to set realistic goals and work independently to achieve them. This activity has students set goals they want to achieve by both attending English class and practicing their language skills at home.

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Large pictures of possible student goals such as a successful parent/teacher conference, talking to a doctor, asking a clerk a question, reading a transit map, getting a driver’s license, or making new friends; contracts (see link below).

Prep: Find and print out the pictures and make copies of the contracts.

Procedure:

1. Post pictures of possible student goals around the room.
2. Elicit from students what the pictures represent.
3. Model for students how to choose a goal and stand by the picture that represents it.
4. Students stand by the picture that represents their goal. If desired, ask the class how many people want to _____? about each of the possible goals.
5. Students return to their seats. Use a projector to model how to fill out a contract. If necessary, fill out another sample contract by eliciting ideas from the students.
6. Students fill out their own contracts (see link below).
7. Collect the contracts, make copies, and return the original contracts to the students.
8. A few weeks later follow up with students. What did they do in class to help meet their goals? What did they do at home? Did they have any problems? What did they do about them?