Self-Reflection
One of the greatest tools a teacher has is the ability to look back on the work they’ve done, the lessons they have implemented, and the interactions they’ve experienced and determine if they were as successful as possible.
It’s Not Easy
Educators of all levels are already multi-tasking every moment of the day. There’s planning, instructing, corresponding with parents and administrators – and there’s the needs of every student – all of which needs to be addressed right away.
So How Do Teachers Know They are on Track?
This is why teachers need to reflect. They need to take time at the end of their work day to ask these seven questions.
1 – Was my demeanor and attitude towards my class today effective for student learning?
How you felt during the day, highs and lows, can have a massive effect on how students learn. Take time to check in and see if your energy levels were where they needed to be.
2 – In what areas can I still improve professionally?
This is a big picture question, but one that is made of tiny, daily pictures. Make sure to pin-point the overall places you want to improve, and examine what you did that day to make those changes.
3 – What new ideas have I tried in my classroom lately to keep myself energized about teaching?
You may be working off lesson plans you’ve used in years past, but every day you should be making tweaks to find improvements. Take a moment to identify those changes you’ve made and how they’ve excited you.
4 – Do I believe that I can still learn new things about my teaching subject area?
Any great teacher knows they must always be learning and improving. Even if you’re a veteran with decades of teaching, you should always be thinking about ways you can learn more about your subject area. Note what you did in the day to learn something new.
5 – What evidence do I have that my students are learning?
This is a practical and essential question to ask yourself after a day of teaching. No matter how small the assessment, there must be a point in your day where you check in to see how well your students are learning from your lessons. Make sure you identify these pieces of evidence each and every day.
6 – Were my students engaged today, and if not, what can I do to change this?
There will be days when your students are struggling to stay engaged. It can be because of the upcoming holiday, the long weekend that just passed, or the test they just took in another class. What matters is you identify those students who aren’t engaged and you make an effort to energize them. It happens everyday, now you just need to reflect upon it.
7 – What am I excited about when looking ahead to the next teaching day?
The final question of the day serves to excite you for tomorrow! This is your chance to put the present day behind you and ready for the work you have planned. Zero in on what excites you the most, so you can rest feeling great about your teaching horizons.