Even teachers need to reflect upon their new learning, which ensures sustained improvements in their practice over time.
We know that if we want teachers to truly improve in their practice and sustain new learning/strategies, they must be self-reflective. But, as an instructional leader, sometimes you are really pressed for time in your efforts to develop meaningful reflection activities for your teachers! I can’t tell you the hundreds of hours of training that I have participated in, where the single most effective tool to ensure actual, practical application of new learning was missed. What is that tool? You guessed it…reflection!
Sometimes, all it takes is the creativity of a few meaningful questions to encourage deep thinking about content, and further application. Asking your teachers to share their ideas and thinking through simple reflection is a powerful tool to encourage collaboration and ensure collective efficacy.
So, where do you start? Simple jot down a few questions that encourage inquiry, discussion or deep thinking. Be sure that your reflective questions can be applied to any content, because once you have brainstormed a few great questions, you will never again fail to provide a self-reflection activity for your teachers! Keep it meaningful. Keep it simple. Recycle those questions a few months from now. Trust me, your teachers won’t even notice.
Here’s a suggestion for Reflection Questions that work with any training, workshop or meeting:
Head–What is something you are thinking?
Heart–What is something you are feeling?
Hands–What is something you are willing to do?
Or…maybe try these Reflective Questions:
Freeze--What is something you need to stop doing? Or you need to take more time to think about?
Fly–What is something you are going to continue doing?
Ripple--What is a small change you could make that could have a big impact? Positive or negative?
A strategy to consider:
Encourage your participants to keep their reflections together in a common place, to refer back to when they need additional inspiration, or when they need a quick refresher/reminder. You know that your teachers have a dusty stack of binders and books in the back of their classroom from all of their prior trainings and meetings. You also know that it is highly unlikely they have the time to dig up their favorite strategy or idea from any of those dusty binders and books. It’s easier to get stuck in the rut of doing-the-thing-you’ve-always-done, especially if trying something new involves any additional effort. And by effort, I mean “Where did I see that strategy? It’s in one of these books here. Didn’t I take notes that day? Gosh, I really need to dust this shelf.” Why not encourage your teachers to simply keep a journal or small folder in the front of their desk, with just a few simple reflections from each workshop or meeting? This ensures that when they are digging around for that lost candy bar in their top desk drawer, they are sure to encounter their favorite ideas, strategies and reflections…hence, improving the likely-hood of actual application. Encouraging them to keep their reflections in one place and referring back to them in your future trainings or meetings is another step in helping them improve their practice over time.
Want More?
For some ready-to-go, no-prep Reflection Questions, check out my new resource “Reflection Questions for Teachers” at Teachers Pay Teachers! This resource includes creative Reflection Question slides that can easily be copied & pasted into your next presentation!
