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"Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful." - Margaret Wheatley
Being intentional is a key part of being an effective educator and, reflection is a key part of being intentional. It's all connected in a cycle of constant growth. In order to be impactful, we must act with intention, reflect on those actions, and then again, act with renewed intention.
As we wrap it up this school year, please make time to reflect and make sure to do it before you activate summer mode. While I realize that looking back and being introspective might be the last thing your weary teacher brain wants to do, there is no better time to make note of the good and the bad then while you're in the thick of it. Summer has a magical way of wiping the slate clean and making us forget how it really was the year before. We come back in August, refreshed and renewed, but sometimes with a false sense of "things will be different". Unless you have intentionally made changes in your approach, it will only be by chance that changes will occur. Going in to next year without taking time now for reflection and without making note of exactly what you will do differently, then it's highly likely that you will end the following year with the same outcome (for better or for worse).
Here are some basic reflective questions to ask yourself before closing the door on the school year:
1) What went well this year? List out your WINS.
2) What would you like to carry with you for next year? Think about instructional strategies, attitudes and mindsets, tips & tricks for classroom management, organization. Make a list and put it someplace safe. You don't have to look at it until next year, but is such a valuable resource to have in your pocket.
3) What do you want to do differently next year right from the beginning?
4) What advice can you give your next year self about handling a time of year that was particularly stressful?
5) What do you feel you need more support with going into next year?
CORE TEACHERS: Did you adequately prepare your students for end of year learning objectives and testing? What do you think made an impactful difference in your student's growth AND what can you improve for next year? Even if you did well, we should all be constantly striving to improve!