Let’s face it, prioritizing daily tasks can be a chore, which is why it is best to teach these skills to our children while they are still young! Many self-improvement gurus claim that when you are overwhelmed with things to do or have difficulty deciding which tasks to accomplish first, simplification may be the best solution. To this end, establishing ‘Top 3 Goals’ can be crucial for distractible students in many different aspects. Here are a few applications. 

Part 1: What are the ‘Top 3 Goals’?
When it comes down to it, establishing a ‘Top 3 Goals’ is merely creating the most basic form of structure for students to follow. It can be applied to both academics, personal routines, and more!. Here is how it could work, let’s say a student is having difficulty starting some homework due to anxiety or distractibility. After conferring with a trusted adult (or one of our tutors!) establish 3 easy-to-understand goals for the child to fulfill, such as.

1: Start your work.
2: Finish your work.
3: Check your work.
Note the emphasis on ‘Start’, ‘Finish’ and ‘Check’, these are simple words pushing students towards simple goals to help them build a sense of purpose and accomplishment. By starting with just three manageable goals, you can empower them to take action and establish good learning routines towards success.

Part 2: Encouraging Focus and Prioritization
In the bustling world of elementary and middle school, honing the ability to prioritize is a valuable skill. The ‘Top 3 Goals a Day’ strategy acts as a friendly guide, teaching kids to identify and focus on the most important tasks. When conferring with your student, talk about ‘what needs to happen’ for a task to be completed. These may vary depending on the age and grade of the student. For example, a first-grader may need to include ‘Write your name on your work’ as a Top 3 goal. A student in 6th-grade may require ‘take out your calculator’ for a math test. Either way, encouraging them to think critically about their needs helps them discern priorities and manage their time effectively regardless of where they are in their academic journey!

Part 3: Exchanging Anxiety for Action!
Success breeds confidence, so when used correctly the ‘Top 3 Goals a Day’ strategy can be a confidence-building marvel. It can be easy for a student to procrastinate when faced with a seemingly complicated task or if they suffer from subject-specific anxiety. That is why establishing simplistic goals is paramount for this strategy to be effective. Avoid goals like ‘Get 90% of the problems correct’ or ‘Make 0 spelling errors’, these may cause a students anxiety to flare up if they do not feel ready for them. Keep the goals simple so that the student will become comfortable initiating tasks that intimidate them. As they repeatedly meet these simple goals, their confidence in the subject will grow and you can begin to introduce more complex goals to match their expanding skill set.

Part 4: Building Confidence and Resilience 
Realistically, there will always be days where you fall short of your goals, and this is as true for children as it is for adults. However; the ‘Top 3 Goals’ strategy can also be used to insulate young learners from the sting of failure through a number of ways. Keeping a running record of a student’s goals and how they have changed as they have grown can act as a valuable tonic against failure. After all, what better way to instill confidence than to show how far you have come? Additionally, this strategy can introduce them to the concept of resilience — the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Even if one goal isn’t met, the accomplishment of the other two fosters a positive outlook, teaching kids that setbacks are temporary, and success is a continuous journey.

Regardless of if you are six or sixteen, establishing ‘Top 3 Goals’ can be a powerfully enriching tool. Used correctly, not only will this strategy increase student productivity, but also confidence and independence. Furthermore, it also infuses a spirit of positivity, focus, and resilience, this approach transforms each task into an opportunity for growth and accomplishment. If you want to learn how this strategy can apply to your child, reach out to us through our contact form and we’d be happy to show you the ropes!