End-of-the-Year REFLECTION...

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The countdown to the end-of-the-year is on (I know some teachers that have been counting down since January)! And many of us cannot wait to run out of the school building like this...



However, stopping to take a few minutes to reflect on the school year could make big difference in August (I know... it is too soon to think about August, but as we all know, it will be back). 

Although I strive to reflect on my teaching practice on a daily basis, I have found that reflecting on both the big picture and the small details of my teaching strategies, habits, and methods allow me to reflect on my teaching through a biased lens.  This biased lens allows me to remember (painfully in most cases), which things went wrong and which things could have been improved.  The fresh memories allow effective strategies to be formed, problems to be solved, and resolve to be strengthened.

First I start with general improvements that need to be made.  I think through stressful times, situations, and feedback that I have received from my students searching for solutions and ways that I can improve my teaching practice to better serve my students, 


Then I ask myself the following questions...

  • What has been my greatest teaching strength this year? How can I fortify this strength so that it can be more effective?
  • What has been my greatest teaching weakness this year? How can I fortify this weakness so that it can be more effective?  
  • What instructional strategies did I use the most this year? Did this align with my educational philosophy, educational best practices, and my students' learning styles?
  • Did I have a growth mindset when it came to my teaching? Did I encourage my students to persevere no matter which cognitive levels they were functioning on? 
  • Did I encourage my students to have a growth mindset regarding their effort, challenges, and mistakes?

Answering these questions have led me to valuable insights that have me feeling like this as I walk out of school...


Source

What reflection questions do you ask your self on a daily basis or at the end of the school year? Please share them in the comments section below. 

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