Goals are best, to use Jim Collins' term, if they are big, audacious, and hairy!  They should come from the passionate center of those setting them. Teachers spend much of their time establishing the environment in which students can learn optimally. In that environment, they work with students who are present or not, learning or not, engaged or not. In the midst of the interplay among student, teacher, content and environment goals are established and are met or not. Teachers become advocates for the interventions that may allow the student to enter the road to success. Read more...