End-of-Year Reflection
John Dewey, known for his influential education reforms in the early 1900s, once said, “We do not learn from experience . . . We learn from reflecting on experience.”
Dewey raises an important point.
We can miss prime opportunities to grow if we do not put in the hard work of reflection.
Intentional reflection causes us to slow down and notice things that we might have missed otherwise. It forces us to grapple with aspects of self-improvement that we might otherwise ignore. It allows us to learn from our successes and failures, increasing the chances that we will replicate the first and avoid the second.
The end of the school year provides a perfect opportunity for reflection, both for the teacher and the student. Students can learn so much by being guided to answer reflection questions, both in what they can learn from the answers themselves and also in the practice of self-assessment. Teachers can learn valuable insights from the responses of their students that can help them to continue to teach in ways that will connect with students.
There is no right or wrong way to do self-assessment, but the following questions may provide a starting point for you.
Questions for the Teacher
What procedures and classroom rhythms worked this year?
What procedures and classroom rhythms did not work this year? What changes might be necessary?
What was my favorite subject to teach this year? Why?
What subject could benefit from extra energy this summer/next year?
What was a particular class that I can remember going really well in terms of student engagement? What may have contributed to that?
What was a concept that my students struggled to master this year? Can I identify what made it difficult for them?
What is a parent interaction that I feel I handled well?
What is a parent interaction I wish that I would have handled differently? What can I learn from that experience?
What were functional frustrations in the way my classroom ran on a daily basis? What systems could I put in place to make those aspects run more smoothly?
What did I learn about student relationships?
What did I learn about staff relationships?
What were the strengths and weaknesses of this particular group of students, and how did that impact my experience this year?
What did my students teach me about the heart of God?
How was God’s grace sufficient for me in the difficult parts of this year?
What was life-giving? What was life-draining?
How did I do with time management? What changes should I make next year in this regard?
What did I learn about myself as a teacher this year?
Questions for Younger Students
What did I enjoy learning about?
What was something that felt easy to me?
What was something that felt hard to me?
When was a time when I was a good friend to others?
When was a time when I felt angry? What can I learn about myself?
What was something I really enjoyed this year?
What was something I did not enjoy this year?
What was my favorite subject? Why?
What was my least favorite subject? Why?
When is a time that I tried really hard and did something that I didn’t think I could do?
What would I tell someone younger than me who is just starting ___ grade?
Questions for Older Students
What is an assignment or project that I completed this year that I feel proud of? What can I learn from that experience?
What is something difficult that I pushed through?
What is a work habit or study skill that I got better at this year?
What is a work habit or study skill that I should focus on improving next year?
What is something we learned about that made me excited?
What was my favorite subject? What can that teach me about myself and who God created me to be?
What are some things I learned about relationships this year?
When was a time that something difficult happened and I handled it well?
When was a time that something difficult happened and I handled it poorly? What can I learn from that experience?
What advice would I give to someone younger than me about how to do well in ___ grade?
