For the past several years I have ended the year with students doing a reflection on their year. It encompasses a visual component, a written component, and an oral component.
How would I describe what I receive from my students?
The Visual Component
Here is a link to the Visual Component Expectations - LINK.
Student Examples - Gabriela Chavez & Lizette Ruelas:
The Written Component
The written component is a Google Doc where students spend 15 minutes a day - over 3 days - choosing a topic to write a paragraph on. There are several sample topics for students to choose from as I encourage them to really reflect on their learnings throughout the year. I post in Google Classroom a blank Google Doc for each student - again, to make easier for me as I read each one. It is truly amazing the insights and thoughts students write about during these 15 minutes.
Here is a link to the Written Component Expectations - LINK.
Student examples - Valerie Cortez and Michelle Lam:
The Verbal Component
The verbal component is a Flipgrid recording of students reading one of their paragraphs from the written component - their choice of paragraph. Their goal is to talk for at least 1 minute about their learnings, goals, and final thoughts. Students record their presentations in one period and then the following day they listen to three oral presentations. So powerful to hear their own voices convey what is important to them.
I hope that this inspires you in some way - either through this engagement activity or one of your own - to have students reflect and look forward as they approach the end of another pandemic academic year.
Give yourself grace and then give yourself more grace during these difficult times.
Still teaching and loving it (everyday),
Kevin Stott
Math 8 & Integrated Math I
