Student Wellbeing and Learning

Pursuing Goals: Helping Students Take Charge of Their Learning

At Greenhills, we want our students to understand that they have an important role in their own learning. Pursuing Goals is about helping students recognise what they would like to improve, set a goal, and take steps towards making it happen.

When students set goals, they begin to understand that learning does not happen by chance. It takes thinking, planning, effort and reflection. Students are learning that they can take ownership of their learning by setting goals that are meaningful to them and working towards them over time.

Setting a goal is more than simply saying, “I want to get better at something.” Students are learning how to create goals that are specific, measurable and realistic. They are encouraged to think carefully about what they want to achieve, what success might look like, and the small steps they can take to move closer to their goal.

As students pursue their goals, they are learning to:

Set a clear goal and understand what they want to achieve.
Break their goal into smaller steps and create a plan.
Follow their plan and take consistent action towards their goal.
Keep track of their progress and use evidence to explain how they are going.
Reflect on what is working well and what they might need to change.
Maintain motivation and flexibility by adjusting strategies when needed.
Persist when they experience challenges, distractions or setbacks.
Celebrate small successes along the way.

One of the most important parts of pursuing a goal is understanding that progress does not always happen in a straight line. Sometimes we need to try something different, ask for help, or change our approach. This is where our other High Impact Learner Agency Traits support students in becoming confident and independent learners.

Students are encouraged to:

Be Open to the New – Be willing to try a new strategy, take a learning risk and have a go at something that might feel unfamiliar.

Be Reflective – Think about how they are going, recognise what they are doing well, and identify what they can continue to work on.

Use Feedback – Listen to feedback from teachers and classmates to help them choose meaningful goals, improve their strategies and understand their progress.

Be Persistent – Keep working towards their goal, even when learning feels difficult. Students are learning that challenges, mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process and provide opportunities to grow.

Engage in Dialogue – Talk about their goals, share their progress and explain what they are learning with others.

One of the things I love hearing as a teacher is when a student provides another student with a goal or suggestion to help them improve. These moments show how connected our students are with each other’s learning. It is powerful to see students not only thinking about their own goals, but also noticing ways they can support their classmates to grow. When students give thoughtful feedback, ask questions and share ideas, they help create a classroom where everyone is learning together.

I have also experienced this in my own learning. My Year 1 class knows that one of my goals is to make sure I mark the roll on time. I am very lucky to have a wonderful class who not only remembers my goal, but also provides me with feedback and reminders to help me improve. They even share ideas about how I can remember to achieve my goal! These moments are a wonderful reminder that everyone is a learner, including teachers, and that feedback and goal setting are most powerful when we support each other.

A goal is not just about reaching the finish line; it is about learning along the way. We want students to recognise their growth, feel proud of their efforts and understand that every small step helps them become better learners. Also to learn that practise makes progress.

How You Can Support Your Child at Home

Families play an important role in helping children develop goal-setting skills. You can support your child by encouraging positive conversations about their learning and helping them reflect on their experiences.

Rather than only asking, “What did you do at school today?” try asking questions that encourage your child to think about their learning, their effort and their growth:

“What was something you were proud of today?”
“What was something new you tried?”
“What was something that challenged you today?”
“What feedback helped you improve?”
“What is something you would like to keep practising?”
“What is one small step you can take tomorrow towards your goal?”

Encourage your child to focus on progress rather than perfection. Celebrate their effort, persistence and willingness to keep trying. Learning takes time, and progress happens when students reflect on their experiences, try new strategies and believe they can continue to grow.

By encouraging these conversations at home, we can help our children become confident learners who understand that they have the ability to set goals, overcome challenges and continue improving every day.

Krysten O'Leary

Learning Specialist.