End to the Beginning post

Oh Cohort21…how I loved our action packed face-to-face sessions where I could share and reflect, ask questions and steal ideas from some amazing educators. And, oh the trouble I had getting those ideas, questions and reflections on this blog. I realize that I was probably a ‘tough cookie’ in terms of getting any sort of information from me during off times, but man oh man have I benefitted from the time I have spent this past year reflecting on my own practice.

 

I started this year with the goal of using an online portfolio in the hopes that my early primary students would be able to reflect in a deeper way. And by working through the design thinking model, that goal has morphed into an action plan. I am now asking myself “how might we support the development of student reflection”. I acknowledge that the portfolio platform (no matter what it is) is a tool that provides new opportunities to reflect and that more dedicated time and effort needs to go into how I teach and model reflection in my classroom.

So far I have:

• added community circles into my schedule in an effort to model and practice ongoing reflection with my students
• experimented with a new platform for documenting and sharing student work (we are currently using the app Sesame)
• gradually released the responsibility of what is reflected on / added to the portfolio
• modified my conferences to include the new online portfolio
• collaborated with colleagues
• failed miserably
• picked myself up and tried again
• had success and still tried something new

 

As a school we are now settling into new understandings of what we want from our portfolios and how to use meaningful student reflection for growth and learning. Going forward we will solidify our platforms (grade one is currently using the app Sesame) and will have a clear school-wide view of expectations surrounding student contributions to portfolios.

I hope to continue my growth and take risks in the classroom by trying new ways to have the students reflect on their learning. I strive to continue to dedicate time in my schedule and to model reflection in class by continuing community circle and providing many opportunities to review and consider their learning. I also want to grow student engagement by gradually releasing the responsibility of choosing what will go into the portfolio and share entries with parents more regularly.

A brilliant colleague of mine recently shared some changes to the way she shares student work and reflection by integrating the language of growth mindset, innovation and creativity, skill building and perseverance, empathy, executive functioning and organization as well as gratitude into her portfolios and conferences with parents. She made these changes recently, saying that she hopes to “enhance the language around learning between my students and their parents- and I think this will help them build big picture learning goals. ”

We are all so lucky to be a part of great institutions filled with people who are constantly growing in their own learning and who are willing to share that growth. I am learning every day and I am excited to keep growing.

Action Plan story presentation:

ACTION PLAN