Unit Learning Goal

Students will develop habits of reflection through examination of others, external dilemmas, and personal reflection prompts. 

Lesson Goal

Students will be able to demonstrate recognition of reflective practices and articulate some of the benefits of reflection.

Assessment

Students will be able to define reflection and engage with methods of reflection. Student in-class conversations and the exit ticket can be monitored for understanding.

portfolio documentation

Resources

Total TIME

45 minutes

Instructions

1. Opener: What IS reflection? [10 minutes].

  • Ask the class how they define “reflection.”

  • Provide additional definitions - use your own definition or one of the following:

    • Careful consideration, a thought occurring in consideration or meditation (dictionary.com)

    • “The process of engaging in attentive, critical, exploratory and iterative interactions with one’s own thoughts and actions, and their underlying conceptual frame, with a view to change.” (Nguyen et al., 2014)

  • Tell students that the Good Project describes reflection as a process of: routinely stopping, pausing, and considering where one is coming from, what one has learned, and where one is wanting to go or what one hopes to achieve.

  • Tell students that the expectation is that this process of reflection becomes a habit in a student’s life. 

  • Activity: Choose one of the following two activities and 1) model for the class, and 2) ask the class to complete the reflection (silently, then ask a few to share out).

    • Describe yourself in 3 words.

    • PASTA:

      • Pause and breathe.

      • Ask yourself how you feel.

      • Say the emotion out loud or write it down.

      • Think about your feelings and let them be.

      • Ask yourself what you need.

2. How do we reflect? [20 minutes].

Explain to the class there are multiple ways to reflect, some of which we do in and out class regularly.  

Some of the examples here touch on all parts of reflection, but some focus more on the “where one is coming from” or “what one has learned” elements in particular.

  • We reflect silently. Choose one of the following to offer as an example that you might want to add to your routine in your classroom this year:

    • Think to yourself: Ask students: What’s something you’ve done well today? Provide a minute for students to think silently.

    • Thumb Gauge: Ask students to respond with a thumbs-up, thumbs-sideways, or thumbs-down: “How well did you sleep last night?” (Students may want to all close their eyes when sharing so that they feel comfortable.)

    • Fist to Five: Ask students to respond with a zero (a fist) up to a five (five fingers) to “How prepared did you feel for school today?”

    • Provide other examples: journaling, drawing, etc.

  • We reflect with partners.

    • Divide into pairs and respond to one of these questions:

    • Pair & Share: Talk with your partner about what you can do now that you were not able to do last month. Alternatively, discuss how you were a friend this week. 

    • I used to think… : Have students discuss with each other the thinking routine “I used to think reflection was…. Now I think reflection is….” 

    • What, So What, Now What? What’s a challenge that you faced this week? What did you learn from that challenge? What will you do with that learning? 

  • We also reflect in large groups, for example, as a class.

    • Lead a conversation about reflection using some of the following questions:

    • When do you reflect outside of class?

    • What do you notice when you pause and reflect?

    • What are some ways that we usually reflect in class?

    • What are some other ways that we might make this a regular practice in class?

  • “I asked my students to have a thorough look of all their assignments for the particular unit.

    I then asked them to ponder over a few questions like, “What was the activity conducted by my teacher? Did I enjoy doing it? What's my take back or learning achieved in that particular unit?”

    After this I connected my students with the term 'reflection', explaining that it is the light of wisdom and knowledge that they as a student had achieved, while learning about the GP units.

    Hereon they started sharing their reflections with their classmates.”

    -Komal Trivedi, educator at Podar International School (Pimpri ICSE)

3. Why do we reflect? [13 minutes].

  • Ask the group: What’s one thing you realized during class today? 

  • Lead a discussion about benefits of reflection, including: self-awareness, critical thinking, problem solving, and understanding and overcoming challenges.

4. Closing and Exit Ticket [2 minutes].

  • Have students identify a new weekly reflection habit they want to build outside of class.

Possible Enrichments:

  • Students create a reflection board where they place writings, images, and diagrams related to a chosen reflection prompt.

  • Students complete a piece of writing related to a reflection habit that they have practiced or will begin.