By: Jia Ma

Highlights:

• Developmentally we want middle schoolers to become more independent and goal orientated to be successful in academic and social situations.
• I recently co-authored some work that explained phased goal setting processes for middle schoolers that may be helpful for educators.
• In this post, I share more about goal setting phases, the tasks within, and resources to help educators support goal setting skills with middle schoolers.

Early adolescents entering middle school are at a pivotal developmental phase as they become less dependent on adults and seek greater autonomy while learning to regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. For some teens who may struggle during this developmental period, it may affect their ability to set goals and achieve academic and social success.

We want teens to be motivated to attain their goals, and research suggests that goal setting plays an important role in improving students’ self-regulation skills. So how do we help middle schoolers to have better goal setting skills?

In a recent publication, my co-authors and I describe explicit instructional techniques that align with a phased goal setting process to bolster students’ intrinsic motivation and self-regulation. In this blog, I share some of the key take-aways and resources that may help educators support middle schoolers’ skills in goal setting.

Goal Setting Phases

Goal setting is not a one-step activity but a multiphasic process that requires deliberate thought at every stage. There are multiple models or frameworks for goal setting (see full review), but a simplified version is to divide the tasks needed for achievement into goal commitment and goal implementation phases:

1. Goal Commitment Phase: The ultimate objective is for students to refine their initially vague and broad goal ideas into specific and challenging goals through a series of explicit instructions. This phase is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the cognitive processes involved in goal setting, enabling them to explore personal values, assess resources and barriers, employ mental contrasting to deepen their commitment, and ultimately refine their goals to be specific and challenging.
2. Goal Implementation Phase: Effective goal implementation transforms students’ goals into reality by providing structure and a systematic approach to enhance motivation. It is an integral part of the goal setting process, turning visions and plans into tangible achievements.

The two-phase goal setting framework and essential tasks for each phase as presented in our publication.

Goal Commitment Supports

Commitment runs deep when it aligns with what truly matters to a student. Think about a time someone stayed dedicated—not for external rewards, but because it felt meaningful (e.g., waking up early to exercise, pushing through exhaustion to spend time with family, etc.). Teenagers, like adults, will naturally stick with things that reflect their values yet often overlook how values shape choices.

Engaging middle schoolers in exploring their values through guided discussions or writing activities can help them learn about themselves and connect their goals to what truly matters. If goals align with personal values, motivation shifts from a struggle to a natural drive. Teaching these skills is essential, as adolescence is a critical developmental time when humans shape their value systems.

This activity can lay the foundation for meaningful choice and pave the way for subsequent activities in the area of goal commitments. Start with this downloadable worksheet to use with your middle schoolers and a sample completed by another teenager.

Goal Implementation Supports

One simple but powerful strategy for middle schoolers during the goal implementation phase is the if-then plan. It’s easy for students to get distracted – maybe they sit down to work but end up checking a phone notification, or they get pulled into chatting with a classmate when they should be working independently. These small moments can derail goal progress.

Now, imagine the student has a plan to stay on track. For example, the student might be telling themselves:

“If I feel the urge to check my phone, then I’ll put the phone away and set a timer to work for 25 minutes first.”

Or:

“If a friend tries to talk to me during work time, then I’ll say, ‘Let’s talk at break’, and keep my focus on the task.”

This is the essence of if-then planning:

1. Preparing for challenges, and
2. Creating automatic responses to stay focused.

For teens, a helpful approach is using this downloadable worksheet (with a completed sample) to list possible obstacles and brainstorm responses in advance. Keeping a journal can also make these plans more effective. By tracking what works and what doesn’t, teens engage in reflective thinking and can decide if they need to adjust their plans. Practicing and refining if-then strategies over time can help them build strong, goal-directed habits.

Goal setting is a skill that requires teachers’ support to develop over time through explicit instructions, guided support, and practices. Teachers play a critical role in helping students take ownership of their goals and choice making.

What’s one small step as an educator you can take today to support your students in the process?

For more details, implications and conclusions, please read our original publication:

Ma, J., Smith, S. W., & Barber, B. R. (2025). Goal Setting Instruction for Middle School Students Who Receive Services for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Intervention in School and Clinic, 60(3), 156-168. https://doi.org/10.1177/10534512241280263