Lori Sabo
A goal without a timeline is simply a dream.
—Kevin O’Leary
The words above have been percolating in my mind ever since I heard Kevin O’Leary speak them to investor seekers on an episode of Shark Tank.
Goal setting is a big part of a CAFE classroom. Students declare goals based on assessments and employ strategies in an effort to reach them.
How might the simple addition of a timetable affect their growth? It’s one of those small shifts we make that can lead to big results.
For instance,
“Andrew, how long do you think it will take you to finish this Magic Tree House book?”
“I don't know.”
“How many pages are you reading each day?”
“Um. Let's see.”
After thumbing through the book, he discovers that he is reading about 12 pages a day.
“So, Andrew, there are 80 pages and you are on page 56. If you read 12 pages today and 12 pages tomorrow, you'll be able to finish this whole book by tomorrow afternoon. I am going to make an appointment with you on my calendar for the day after that so we can see if all your predictions came true or if Mary Pope Osborne surprised you.”
And . . .
“Emma, I notice you are spelling they like it sounds, t-h-a-y. The actual spelling is t-h-e-y. If you practiced this word during Word Work, how long do you think it would take you to memorize it?”
“Hmm. One day, probably.”
“One day? And then you would know it forever?”
She smiles in agreement.
“Okay! I am going to trust you to choose Word Work between now and Friday and really work hard to learn that word. I’ll meet with you a week from Friday, and we’ll peek into your writing notebook and do a scavenger hunt for the word they to see how it is going.”
The timetable adds a little more accountability and might be just the boost students need to accelerate their progress. And because I’ve written the notes in my conferring notebook or in the CCPensieve, I’m ready to be focused and intentional next time we meet.
News from The Daily CAFE
It's Poetry Month . . .
Poetry and Personification*
Here is a poem that is rich with meaning, things to talk about, and is a wonderful introduction to personification.
CAFE Connections . . .
Does the CAFE Menu Include Behaviors?*
People often wonder if and how behavior goals fit in with CAFE. We’d love to shed some light on that.
Deepen Comprehension . . .
Nonfiction and the CAFE Menu
Reviewing CAFE in a new way helped Teresa Thorson's students zero in on the strategies that would help them read and understand nonfiction.
Focus on Health . . .
Nurture
Carol Moehrle asks us to consider whether we are as nurturing to ourselves as we are to others.