ABSTRACT
Personal goals and the emotions that successful goal pursuit evokes are the main energy sources that move people forward (i.e., give energy and direction to their life). Personal goals can relate to the home and family domain, to various social relationships, to school and work environments, to health, and spirituality. For example, a student may be motivated to learn to read for diff erent reasons as the following examples may show. Maggie is intrigued by the symbols that she cannot decipher yet but that others can fl awlessly decode. Paula views being able to read as instrumental for reaching her dream: becoming a doctor. Sammy wants to read what his grandma writes to him, and Eve wants to read well in order to establish a close relationship with her new teacher. For each of these four students reading is a meaningful and purposeful activity; they view “being able to read” as a desirable end-state and are prepared to engage in a chain of activities that will reach this end-state. Such purposeful involvement refers to a personal goal or personal project. It is essential that teachers and parents are aware of the personal goals that direct students’ learning activities, because these personal projects give meaning to learning and are a source of energy that allows the students to move forward.
