I’ve been faithfully naming the “Learning Goal” with each class for several years now.
And frankly, it doesn’t inspire.

Yawn.

Instead of (actually, in addition to) this, I’ve added the Daily Doozy to my pre-lesson routine.

After the Goal of the Day, I show them this slide for about 2 seconds. Long enough to play this song:

…then I quickly move on. They don’t have enough time to try it, just enough time to whet their appetite for some Algebra.

(Also, I don’t want the Honors students to finish it and be bored the rest of the period.)

Then, after we’ve factored, noted, practiced, and learned, I go back to that slide, and they have time to tackle the Daily Doozy…

… and I play the final minute of this song:

I added that last line to the slide because I had 4 or 5 students who finished the Daily Doozy and proclaim, “That was easy!” I reminded them that it probably isn’t easy for all the students. Instead, they can proclaim, “My, what an appropriate challenge!”

I do declare!

UPDATE 17 April 2013: Per Dan’s request, here are a few more.