A Time to Stop and Reflect

October is almost over, and I find it is a perfect time to stop and reflect on the school year. I had so many great ideas of things I wanted to implement into my teaching practice. Reflection was at the top of my list; ongoing reflection for my students and myself. I find myself wondering what kind of ongoing reflection have I done. My classes have accomplished so much academically so far, but we have not taken the time to reflect on the learning.

The classes have reflected on their actions and behaviour. We have had many meaningful conversations about being kind, using positive words, saying sorry, and performing acts of kindness. I have also talked about leadership and the importance of making a positive difference every day. During this time, we have also strengthened our relationships as well.

As I sit back and reflect on the last few weeks, I smile because there have been a few amazing moments as I have watched my students being so kind and caring. During our monthly visits to a nearby seniors’ residence, I watched with pride as my students made real connections with the residents. Another moment happened at a track meet. The students supported each other by cheering for every student. The good sportsmanship that was on display was amazing, and our classes stood out amongst all the other schools. Teachers and parents from other schools even noticed our tremendous support for each other.

The most recent moment came during our class speeches for class representatives. We had 13 out of 22 students who wanted the coveted position of class rep. The speeches were sweet and sincere. I listened to each child talk and express their true interest in working for their classmates and bringing their ideas to the student council. I looked to my teaching partner, and we shared a secret smile to acknowledge this special moment.

The personal reflection and relationship building done with the classes has helped to build a community of kindness and support where it is safe to take risks. I am pretty confident that the students are ready to take risks in their learning this year. I know that I am ready to take risks too. Academic reflection will start this week. My personal reflection will continue on this blog.