Effective goal setting: Teacher SMART goals for your first year of teaching

It’s no secret that your first year of teaching can be overwhelming. With so much on your plate – from creating class content, to managing student behaviour, and building professional relationships – it’s tempting to try to master everything at once. However, this can lead to burnout and a lack of clarity around how you’re progressing.

Here’s where SMART goals can help. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals, and they are crucial to track your growth throughout your first year.

Goal-setting shouldn’t add more pressure, but instead support you in prioritising what matters most to your progress (and celebrate it!). Research shows that using the SMART framework helps you better meet student needs and reach your goals by taking appropriate action to get there.

SMART goals for teachers

Let’s explore four teacher SMART goals examples that you can implement today.

Example goal #1: Create three consistent classroom routines by the end of the month

Routines are essential to manage classroom behaviour and ensure things run smoothly without repeated instructions. Here’s how you can use the SMART framework to implement routines with your students.

Specific:

Establish three core routines that will anchor your classroom management. For example:

• Entering the classroom: Students know where to put their belongings, how to collect the materials they need, and sit in their arranged seating plan.
• Transitioning between activities: Use signals (such as a bell or raising your hand) to cue transitions without losing time or energy getting students’ attention.
• Ending lessons: Students know how to summarise a key learning from the class, pack up quietly, and line up to exit the classroom.

Measurable:

Track the success of your routines using a checklist or behaviour log. Each day, record how many students follow routines independently, aiming for 80% consistency for two consecutive weeks. Adjust where you need to – e.g., by reteaching or modelling behaviours – or you might also ask another teacher to observe and provide feedback on the flow of your routines.

Achievable:

Instead of trying to perfect everything at once, focus on three key routines. Once these are running smoothly, you can add in others, such as group work expectations or independent reading.

Time-bound:

Plan to introduce and model the routines within the first month, practise and reinforce them daily, and aim to have the routines functioning seamlessly by the end of the first semester.

Example goal #2: Build relationships with students in the first semester

Positive student-teacher relationships can make the difference between empowered, curious students and ones who feel unmotivated or unseen. Here’s how to use SMART to build closer student connections.

Specific:

Prioritise learning every student’s name and something unique about them, like an interest, hobby, or personal strength. Keep a student connection log where you note these insights and keep track of each student. This helps you build trust and tailor your teaching to their interests and motivations.

Measurable:

Strive to have at least one positive one-on-one interaction with each student. Document each interaction briefly, noting what you spoke about and how the student responded.

Achievable:

Start small – choose three to five students per week to connect more deeply with, and check in with them briefly during arrival, break, or transitions rather than formal sit-down chats.

Time-bound:

By the six- to eight-week mark, aim to have developed some form of connection with every student. This early investment helps you build rapport, boost engagement, and have better classroom management throughout the year.

Example goal #3: Develop a sustainable work-life balance before the festive holidays

Teaching at any point in your career can easily take over your life – never mind in your first year as a professional. Use the SMART framework to help create long-term work-life balance.

Specific:

Establish clear, concrete boundaries that preserve your energy and wellbeing. For example, leave school by 4.30 pm at least three days a week, keep one weekend day free from marking and planning, or make space for one recharging activity per week (a yoga class, evening with friends, hike in nature, etc.).

Measurable:

Use a habit tracker or calendar to note how consistently you stick to your boundaries over four consecutive weeks. Spend a few minutes weekly to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and where you can adjust.

Achievable:

Don’t expect a perfect work-life balance immediately. Focus on making progress with a few small habits or boundaries, and make adjustments if any feel too unrealistic at this point.

Time-bound:

Begin your plan early in the semester and review your progress by December. Make sure to take some all-important downtime during the festivities, too!

Example goal #4: Get feedback and build a professional support network in the first month

Professional mentorship is essential to growth and development in your first year as a teacher. Using SMART goals can help you keep track of your progress and stay proactive about your development.

Specific:

Seek out structured feedback and professional mentorship early on. This might include the following:

• Observe at least two experienced teachers and take notes on their classroom management, communication, and pacing strategies.
• Schedule monthly meetings with your mentor or department head to reflect on your challenges and progress.
• Request formal feedback twice during the first semester, ideally once at the mid-point, and once before the semester break.

Measurable:

Keep a feedback journal or log. Record observation dates, mentor meetings, and key takeaways from each discussion. Use your notes to set mini-goals, such as trying out transition signals or providing feedback on work more quickly to students.

Achievable:

Use existing school systems, such as mentor programmes, professional learning communities, or teacher induction groups. If your school doesn’t have formal mentorship opportunities, ask a senior teacher if they can be an informal guide. Be proactive about scheduling meetings and observations instead of waiting for others to initiate.

Time-bound:

Aim to have your network in place by the end of your first month, and maintain regular contact throughout the year. Make professional growth an ongoing, collaborative process, not a one-off requirement.

SMART teaching in your first year

The SMART goals teaching examples listed above are just that – examples. Feel free to tailor these toward your unique objectives as a teacher. Remember, you need to create SMART goals that work for you. When you complete your goals, it’ll be because of your discipline and care, and that value will be exchanged to the people around you, too.

Further reading

Interested in developing your professional performance further? Read How to self-assess your teacher performance and practice, Happy classrooms: what teachers can learn from the world’s happiest children, and How to be more empathetic with students.