Teach This Today #1
The Power of Reflection
There are three methods to gaining wisdom.
The first is reflection, which is the highest.
The second is limitation, which is the easiest.
The third is experience, which is the bitterest.
Confucius
Every year at this time we seem to fall into the vortex that is “Mayhem.” That end-of the-academic-year whirlwind of activity – state exams, field days, awards ceremonies, collecting textbooks, cleaning out lockers, and on and on…
And then boom, its over and we hardly know what happened. That’s why it is so important to make time for our students to reflect on their experiences. It allows adolescents to learn from their past mistakes and situations. It helps calm the mental chaos that inhabits their minds and provides closure for a specific life chapter.
But we can’t just tell them to “reflect,” and expect anything good to come of it. Students need some structure to guide their thinking.
As teachers, we need to assist our students in the art of discovery. One of the best ways to do this is to guide conversations and “thinking out loud.” While talking with each other, they can’t help but be fully engaged in the process.
Here is a fun and collaborative way for your students to approach a global, year-end reflection. A twist on the classic Cootie Catcher, this Reflection Catcher lets students interact with one another while steering the conversation in the right direction.
Some of the questions are deep, while others are a little silly. When using the Reflection Catcher in class, encourage students to work with a variety of partners throughout the class period. The new interactions will lead the conversations in different directions and elicit a wider response.
Download the Reflection Catcher (it’s free) and use it in your classroom today. Be sure to let us know how it went – we would love to hear from you.
Standards In Puzzles
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