Teaching Sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

20 minutes

Tune In: What are goals?

25 minutes

Find Out: Sharing our goals

40 minutes

Take Action: Dream mentors

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

understand the importance of goal-setting
set a 365-day goal.

Success criteria

Students can:

practice active listening
write a letter to their dream mentor.

Tune In: What are goals?

Step 1

Using the set of Value Cards, select the ‘Kindness’ value card. Pass the card around and explain to students that this value is important when considering our goals to be kind to each other and ourselves over the next year. Encourage students to think and act with kindness throughout this workshop.

Step 2

Pose the question to mentees

What are goals?
Why do we set them?

Invite mentees to raise their hands and offer their answers to the questions.

Reiterate to mentees that goals are things we want to achieve or get better at. They give us something to work towards, like a target. Think of a goal as a plan or a dream you want to make happen, whether it’s getting better at a sport, finishing a big project or learning something new. Goals help us focus our energy and time on what’s important, giving us a sense of direction and purpose. When we set goals, we also figure out the steps we need to take to reach them, making it easier to see our progress.

Step 3

Watch the following video explaining the AIME 365-day goal!

365 Days: Round 2 - (https://vimeo.com/1017767714?share=copy#t=0)

Step 4

After viewing the video, pass around a stack of sticky notes for mentees to grab one note. On their note, instruct mentees to write one 365-day goal with their name.

Find Out: Sharing our goals

Step 1

Explain to mentees that, as outlined in the video, listening is the key to giving our dreams life – by sharing them aloud, we feel more motivated to achieve them! Invite mentees to find a partner and set a timer for two minutes. During this time, mentees are to share the 356-day goal they wrote on their sticky notes.

Step 2

Once two minutes have passed, set a timer for four minutes. Invite pairs to find another pair to collectively share their goals as a group of four.

Step 3

Set a timer for six minutes and invite groups of four to find another group of four. In their eight groups, mentees are to share their goals with their new group.

Step 4

Once the timer is up, invite the mentees to discuss the common themes of their goals within the group by using the prompts:

Were our goals similar?
What challenges could we face in reaching our goals?
How can we support each other in achieving these goals over the next 365 days?

Step 5

After sharing their goals, mentees may like to adjust their goals after discussing them with their peers. You may encourage students to consider who their goal affects and how it can be achieved.

Step 6

After their discussion, invite mentees to paste their sticky notes on the Goal Poster, which will be visible to everyone! Explain to mentees that when we make our goals visible, we become more motivated to achieve them.

Ask one mentee per group to summarise the key points of their goal discussion with the cohort.

Take Action: Dream mentor

Step 1

Outline to mentees that they possess all the qualities to turn their dreams into reality. But we all need support along the way. Explain that a mentor can provide this support. A mentor helps guide and support us as we learn and grow. They have experience in something we want to get better at. A mentor can give you advice, share their knowledge, and help you figure out how to reach your goals. They listen to your ideas, answer your questions and encourage you when things get tough. Mentors are there to help you succeed in school and life by sharing what they’ve learned from their own experiences.

Invite your mentees to think of one person who would be their dream mentor to achieve their 365 goals.

Step 2

Your mentee’s task is to write a letter to their dream mentor. Remind mentees that their dream mentor doesn’t need to be someone famous or high-profile. It can be a family member, a community member, or even a sports coach. Before beginning, read the following example mentor letter to the cohort.

Dear Jack,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Jane, and I am currently a student in Year 9. I have been inspired by your work and achievements, particularly your passion for First Nations youth and your commitment to transferring knowledge to younger generations for a more inclusive and accepting society.

Since I first learned about the AIME program, I have admired your organisation's mission and felt a strong connection to your journey. Your dedication to others has inspired me to consider a career in education or youth work.

As I work towards my 365-day goal of volunteering in the local community, your guidance could help me. I am eager to learn from your experiences, gain insights into working with others, and build my communication and interpersonal skills.

I would be deeply grateful if you could mentor me. I am committed to working hard and taking your advice to heart as I strive to reach my goal.

Thank you for considering my request. I would be thrilled to learn from someone I respect and admire as much as you. I look forward to the possibility of connecting with you.

Sincerely,
Jane

Step 3

Let the mentees begin their letter writing using a device (laptop or tablet) and encourage them to ask for support through this process. The Student Worksheet contains a series of prompting questions the mentees can use to assist them in their letter writing.

Learning support: Encourage all mentees to write their letters, but they could present them to their dream mentor in audio or video format.

Step 4

The next step is for your mentees to create an actionable plan for engaging with their mentor in the section provided on the Student Worksheet.

Reflection

Invite three of your mentees to share their letters with the group. Encourage non-presenting mentees to provide positive and constructive feedback.

MentorClass: 365 Days

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Summary

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