Reflect on Teaching by Revisiting Anytime
Did you know you can reflect on teaching year round? That’s right! This process can be done after a lesson, week of lessons, unit, quarter, semester, and end of year.
So . . . when is the appropriate time for reflecting on teaching a full school year? Really . . . anytime! But what is most important? That you reflect on your teaching practices. In this post, I’m going to share some of my tips to help teachers know how to reflect on your teaching practices.
Life gets busy, especially for teachers, so if you did not take time to reflect upon teaching from the prior school year in May, then take time now.
Starting a new school year without considering what went well and what needs adjusted will result in another year of things that do not go well.
Many teachers take time to reflect on teaching at the end of the school year; however, if your end of year is busy, taking time to reflect on the school year over the summer is also beneficial.
Learning how to reflect on teaching practices allows teachers that opportunity to slow down and essentially review our professional history. We have the opportunity to think about what to keep, what to toss, and what to revise.
Either way, I can guarantee you that it is very important to reflect at some point in order to move your professional journey forward.
My Tips on How to Reflect on Teaching
There are many ways to reflect; however, if you don’t have a reflecting process, feel free to grab some ideas from mine and make them your own!! Before you leave this page, remember to get my free resource shared below to assist your reflection process.
Step 1: Pondering as I Reflect on Teaching
“Take time to reflect on teaching and student learning”.
My reflecting process: I always reflect upon the prior school year the last few weeks of May by writing some notes and jotting some new ideas down to try for this upcoming year.
Then I put this information in a safe place, pull out as needed over the summer, monitor progress, and come August . . . I am ready for another year of teaching and learning.
This process allows me to enjoy my summer vacation, knowing I will be prepared for a successful new year.
When I reflect upon a year, there are several questions I ask myself.
- How effective were the lessons that I taught? Can they be taught in a different way to better motivate and engage my learners?
- What is something new I want to try in order to better deliver content? Project based learning? Simulations? Workshop?
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- What training do I need to implement new instructional strategies?
- What training do I need to do a better job at what I am doing?
- What curricular areas do I want to improve upon?
- What can I do to better differentiate and personalize learning?
- How can I better utilize technology to support learners’ needs?
- What worked and did not work regarding classroom management? Why?
- What needs to change to realize improvement?
These are typically the questions that I start with; however, once I start reflecting, more questions are developed and discussed on paper.
Get my free resource and your guide to reflecting upon a school year with success!
Step 2: Processing, Reflecting and Moving Forward
Once I’ve had an opportunity to reflect, I start taking action on what I need to do to improve. I am never satisfied with “status quo”, and am always trying better myself.
I consider professional development opportunities to participate in over the summer. Perhaps it’s a live workshop, a virtual training, or even reading a book or two during those long trips.
What’s important to remember here, after I’ve taken time to reflect, I take action for improvement. Reflecting without taking action is simply a wasted reflection.
I consider professional development opportunities to participate in over the summer. Perhaps it’s a live workshop, a virtual training, or even reading a book or two during those long trips.
What’s important to remember here, after I’ve taken time to reflect, I take action for improvement. Reflecting without taking action is simply a wasted reflection.
Step 3: Planning and Developing a “To Do” List
The next step is to develop my “To Do” list. I typically have this ready to take action before school is out, but this step can also go into the first week of my summer vacation.
Over the summer, I work on my list and knock out those workshops, training, or book study first, since this information will guide my planning in August.
I schedule in those virtual workshops or reading time when everyone else is at work or doing other things, so I don’t miss out on family time.
Since I enjoy reading, my book reads are also great for long trips or in the quiet evening. Check out some of my favorite books for this summer!
I don’t think I ever had a summer vacation where I was not involved in some type of training. So goes the work of a teacher. At least I can sleep in and go to the restroom when I need to go. LOL
Once I have my “to do” list completed, I take time to revisit my yearlong curriculum map.
I make any updates that need to be done, rework some of the lessons or at least get some notes jotted down, then put this away for the week before I actually head back to school.
It’s time to enjoy my summer vacation.
Reflect on Teaching: Refreshed and Ready
As I write this post, I can share that I am halfway done with my “To Do” list!! Yeah, me!!! I’ll have time to continue working through the reading part of my list while we travel south to go fishing, camping, and the lower 48. Finding pockets of time to work on my list and still enjoy summer vacation is my goal.
Based upon the work that I’ve completed thus far, I have a great start to my new school year plans. I am crafting new units and lessons to implement based upon student achievement and new learning that I have participated in over this summer.
As a result of my professional learning, my brain still turns and churns out new thoughts for the year. I take time to write this information down for additional ideas to tweak.
Soon I will be ready to put my “completed summer to do list” learning into action in just four short weeks!
Reflect on Teaching: Related Reads
That’s it!! “My Reflection Steps: Pondering, Processing, and Planning” for a successful year!
How are you doing with your summer “to do” list? Are you ready to make the shift from vacation back to school?
I’ve gathered a few additional readings that you may find resourceful as you start your planning.
Curriculum Map: Everything You Need to Know
How to Start a New School Year Right
Eight Tips to Wrap-Up a School Year
Reflecting and Final Thoughts
Taking the time to reflect upon a school year is going to be beneficial for you across all aspects of your professional career.
If you did not have the chance to reflect at the end of the school year, do NOT miss out on this opportunity to reflect BEFORE starting a new school year.
This reflection piece is the most important element to growing in the teaching profession.
Cheers to an AMAZING school year!!
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