Setting Goals Helps Us Learn

Life presents us with many opportunities for learning. Best practices show that setting incremental goals with measurable results allow us to develop a growth mindset. Intentional opportunities for self-reflection and re-evaluation allow our students, teachers, and the school itself to grow. Here at B’nai Shalom, we recognize how setting goals strengthens our commitment to learning. 

Goal setting is a central part of the learning process within B’nai Shalom classrooms, especially in our reading and writing curriculum. Throughout each unit of study, students are regularly asked how to assess their current behaviors and determine goals for themselves using checklists, anchor charts, and other classroom resources. Teachers support students in looking at their own writing and reading, setting goals, and keeping these goals in mind throughout the rest of the unit. Engaging students in the process of goal setting empowers them to take ownership of their learning. 

Just as they model with their students, B’nai Shalom teachers are given the opportunity and resources to set their own goals in partnership with their division head. This is a time when teachers are able to reflect on where they are professionally, and how they “hope to be,” just like they teach their students to do.  

Lastly, B’nai as an organization is given the opportunity to set goals via the Accreditation process through the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). Completed every 5 years, this process allows us to reflect on what we do and set new goals for future improvements. This year, B’nai Shalom will take an honest look at our practices and reflect how they help us implement our mission. Lower and Upper School parents were invited to participate in the assessment for the school. Using the feedback from the stakeholder surveys and analyzing  our practices, we will set goals that reflect the future of B’nai Shalom and where we aspire to be. 

Our school is beyond thankful for your support, and if you have not already, we invite you to participate in our stakeholder surveys. Your invaluable and honest feedback will help inform B’nai Shalom’s our learning and self-reflection.