WOOP Technique

Description
One-on-One Activity | 15 minutes

The WOOP Technique is a goal-setting activity you can use to empower students as leaders in their own learning. The acronym stands for four steps: wish, outcomes, obstacle, and plan. Click here to download this page as a PDF. This activity can:

Help students develop skills to navigate through learning challenges.
Empower them with tools to increase confidence as they monitor their own progress toward their self-identified goals.
Help students break down overwhelming or vague goals into smaller, attainable, and practical steps.
Help tutors/educators integrate student goals into curriculum planning.

A spreadsheet of the WOOP Technique with examples

Instructions

1. Wish: What are your math learning goals?

This first question is deliberately open-ended, but make sure to guide the student toward concrete answers. A vague answer might be “Do a good job in math.” A more specific way to approach this is to put limits on the question: “What do you want to take way from this tutoring experience [today, this month, this year]?“” or “At the end of tutoring, what is a change you could see that will make you feel like you are glad you came here?”

2. Outcome: What would it look and feel like to reach them?

Given their goals, what would it look and feel like to achieve them? Better grades? Feel more confident about math? Being able to do a math problem without a calculator? Noting these specifics helps to ground the wish in reality.

3. Obstacle: What could get in the way?

With a goal in mind and a vision for what it looks like to achieve it, the student is now ready to list as many specific things that they can think of that might get in the way. This list can be anything from “I don't know how to do [X] math problems” to “I have a hard time focusing because my friends sitting next to me want to talk.” Then, have the student mark the obstacles that they have the most control over and the obstacles that concern them the most.

4. Plan: What can we do to overcome your obstacles?

Finally, you're ready to write “if-then” statements that respond to the student's obstacles. If-then statements help the student isolate an obstacle and think through ways of responding so that when the moment comes, they'll be more capable of taking a step toward their goals. An example of this would be, “If I have a hard time focusing, I'm going to move seats” or “I'm going to ask my friends to help me pay attention.” Once you try out your plans, track your progress. What went well, what changes did you have to make?

Tips and Tricks

Online and Group Adaptation. You can do the WOOP Technique in one-on-one video conferencing. If you have a large group, try sending students into breakout rooms where they can guide each other through the questions and take notes to show you later. You can share the WOOP Technique worksheet that students answer individually and then turn in.

A note about math self-concept. Several factors can impact a student’s self-image and confidence as a math learner. Lack of confidence may be expressed through negative self-talk (e.g., “I am bad at math.” or “I’m dumb.”). You can support students by reframing statements (e.g., “Math has been challenging for you.” or "You haven’t learned to do that yet.”). Longer-term you can help build confidence by pointing out specific signs of progress and when appropriate, providing authentic and positive feedback on the effort a student put forth rather than the outcome. Check out the Growth Mindsets activity for more information.

Unexpected Obstacles. Remember that Providing Support isn't only a teacher-to-student dynamic. If this exercise uncovers larger obstacles outside of learning math, consider reaching out to administrators, guardians, and/or trained professionals to help students get the help they need.

Engaging Families. You can invite families to try this activity at home by providing this activity as a handout or sent electronically.

Going Deeper. Click here to learn even more about the WOOP Technique.

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