The Goal Setting for Students book teaches students (grades 5 -12)
how to develop a positive attitude about school and life.
Winner of three national parenting book awards.

On this website:

You can purchase the eight chapter character development book on goal setting in e-book or paperback format and/or download a PowerPoint presentation on goals. 

Additionally, you can download free items including a goal setting form,  several articles on how to develop a positive attitude and advice on character development. You can look inside the goal setting book or download a sample goal setting chapter called Measuring Your Progress toward reaching your goals.

“… I learned to never give up.  It is important to have pride in yourself
and to try your hardest to achieve all your goals.”
- Ryan Chase, student

The Goal Setting for Students book shows students a new way to positively look at their teachers and homework, quizzes, tests, and term papers.

For example:  In the discussion section of Chapter # 5, entitled Measuring Your Progress, the book states:

This may shock you, but teachers have goals for what they what to teach you. These goals are called lesson plans. Teachers write lesson plans for a day, a week or a month. How do you think teachers can measure their progress toward reaching their goals for your class?  (Hint: Tests are one example.)

In all eight chapters of this unique goal setting book we are positively reinforcing the message that education is essential in today’s world, and that parents and teachers want to help students succeed in school and in life. And, we get students talking about how they can take a more active part in their education.

The books chapters include:  What is Success?, Goal Setting, Samples and Practice, Investing Yourself, Measuring Your Progress, Meeting the Challenge, How to Get Started and Summary.

“We have noticed definite improvement in our child’s willingness to take responsibility for their academic success.”                        
- George Oehlert, Parent

The book gives students words of encouragement while teaching them why goal setting is so important, what is goal setting, how to set goals, and how this program compares SMART goals program.

Aren’t they teaching goal setting in school?
Yes and no. 

Schools are teaching goal setting, but unfortunately it many, many cases it is a 30-minute segment of a much bigger program (i.e. character education, alcohol and drug prevention, dropout prevention, etc.) 

Some schools have said that with the NCLB law and the state proficiency tests that they don’t have that much time for goal setting. I respectfully disagree. This is a character development tool that students can use to take more responsibility for their education.  Below are several suggestions for implement this program in your school.

For goal setting to be REALY effective for schools need to do four things:

• Break it up throughout one grade. For example:  English teachers in 6th grade could do the chapter What is Success? Science teachers chapter 3 - Samples and Practice, and communication arts teachers could do the Investing in Yourself chapter. The full program can be completed in a two month period.

• Teachers and administrators must practice what they preach. Everyone in the school must be involved and speaking the same language. For example: writing down their goals, developing their action steps, using the positive I Can Make It Happen words and eliminating the Bummer Words, getting into the habit of asking the four questions you need to answer when you set goals.

• Parents have to be involved. The Goal Setting for Students book has a Home Activity section for each chapter. There are discussion stimulating questions so parents can have positive and meaningful conversation with their children about each chapter’s message.

This is an important content for ALL students, but we have seen a great deal of success where students are distracted or need additional help. Here are some other places for you to consider: after school programs, in-school suspensions and at risk programs or alternative education.

Here is a sampling of the articles you can find on this website:

Character Development – 10 Ways to Help Your Teacher
Character Development – 10 Steps to Better Grades
Character Development – The Awesome Power of YES
Character Development – 10 Ways to Prepare for Success

Positive Attitude – Who Stole Your Day?
Positive Attitude – Leave It on a Good Note
Positive Attitude – Two Great Questions
Positive Attitude – Confidence Builder for Children

Goal Setting – 10 Roadblocks to Your Success
Goal Setting – Dreams vs. Goals
Goal Setting – Determination
Goal Setting – Excuses, excuses, excuses

What Do We Know About Goal Setting?

Goal setting provide motivation.
Goal setting helps us to recognize our abilities.
Goal setting is more than daily checklists
Goal setting gives you a sense of the big picture
Goal setting helps us to set priorities.
Goal setting helps us organize our time.
Goal setting gives us a sense of pride. 
Goal setting gives us a sense of ownership.
Goal setting builds our self-image.
Goal setting needs action steps.
Goal setting needs a timetable.
Goal setting teaches us what is important.
Goal setting provides inspiration.
Goal setting helps us develop a plan.
Goal setting helps us focus.
Goal setting helps us turn our dreams into reality.
Goal setting helps us become enthusiastic.
Goal setting helps students define their path to their future success.