As the school year comes to a close, you may be wrapping up testing, mapping out how to pack your classroom, and thinking of your summer plans (woo hoo!). Before you run off into the warm sunshine of summer, take some time to reflect on the 2021-2022 school year. You’ve tried new strategies, added new activities to your repertoire, or decided to adjust your class norms. Whether you kept your “tried and true” or chose a new path, it may benefit you to think back on what worked for you through the school year.
Reflecting on the school year doesn’t have to be as formal as it may sound. You can choose to write it down in a journal, have conversations with colleagues, or think back on the year as you take a nice walk. If you need a jumpstart to get your reflection going, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What am I proud of this year?
- What did I do well?
- What activity or strategy worked well?
- Are there any adjustments that I want to make for next year?
Make sure you are gentle with yourself during your reflection. After all, you wear many hats with finesse. If you want to take your reflection a step further, you can draft a course of action for next year. Again, it does not have to be lengthy or formal. Maybe just jot down some quick points that you want to focus on next year.
Your students can benefit from reflection as well. You can use this Knowre Math Student Reflection sheet to start. Students can then write a sentence or two about how their answers are similar or different from the beginning of the year and why. This exercise can allow students to see their growth throughout the year when it comes to their learning. Jennifer Findley also shares some great student reflection activities on Teaching with Jennifer Findley.
Reflection doesn’t need to be a long, drawn-out process for you or your students. Make it easy-going, yet effective. Then, put it away until you’re ready to prepare for next school year and relax! You deserve it. You’ve done an awesome job this year.
