Help Your Students Reflect
The end of each school year presents a golden opportunity for students to reflect on what they’ve learned. But what exactly should students reflect on, and how should they do it?
Reflecting on the content they’ve mastered, and the skills they’ve developed along the way, can help students grow both as learners and as people. So as this year winds to a close, here are a few ways you can get your students reflecting - and growing:
Reflect on content: What did students like learning about?
What moved or inspired them? It can be hard to remember everything that they’ve covered during the year, but asking students to think through everything they’ve learned can be a great way for them to remember things they might otherwise forget. It’s also a great way for you to get feedback on the lessons that really stuck with your students.
Sample reflection prompts: What was your favorite lesson this year? What from this course will you remember one year from now?
Reflect on habits: What behaviors helped your students learn?
What behaviors got in their way? Thinking about these things now will help students develop the habits they’ll need later, as the material they are asked to master gets more and more complex. If you can somehow record their responses, you’ll also have lots of good, age-appropriate advice you can share with your next set of students next year.
Sample reflection prompts: What did you do this year that helped you learn? If you could start this course over again, what would you do differently?
Reflect on feedback: What advice from you made a difference? How did your support help them succeed?
Your students will have a new teacher next year, so it’s useful for them to consider and understand how the feedback they got from you, their teacher, contributed to their growth. If they’re honest with you, you’ll also get great feedback on what you did well this year - and what you can change next time.
Sample reflection prompts: What was a memorable piece of feedback you received? How did the feedback you received this year help you grow?
These are just a few of the ways that you can help students reflect! For more question ideas, as well as advice on the tools you can use and the optimal frequency of reflection, please consult our full guide to metacognition.
