Reflections
By Mrs Jennifer Spies
Posted on 17 February 2009
Now that the frantic pace of the start of a new year is passing, are you wondering just how settled your students are? How are they coping? What are they learning? Do they have friends? Perhaps your school requires you to write a settling in or progress report. As a teacher of secondary mathematics, I was interested in knowing just how well my students were learning, but just as importantly, how engaged they were in the classroom and all it had to offer. Asking students to reflect on and evaluate their own learning can be very helpful for both the teacher and learner.
At the end of a topic, I would sometimes ask the students to write down what they had learnt about themselves, God, me (as the teacher) and mathematics (not necessarily in that order!). Almost without exception, their responses were honest and thoughtful and as their teacher, I was often encouraged by what they wrote. It also gave me the opportunity to address issues that perhaps they would not have otherwise verbalized.
This idea of self evaluation can also be helpful in the whole process of report writing. On the occasions when I asked students to write their own report comment, (with reference to things like their attitude in class and homework record), they were generally truthful, sometimes very creative but on the whole, challenged by the process to take more responsibility for their behavior and learning.
So if you are wondering how your students are going, don’t be afraid to ask them. Not only will it help you understand them a bit better, but for many of them it is an opportunity to stop, think and take responsibility early in the year.
Jennifer is open to invitations from Anglican schools to meet with teachers or conduct workshops. Contact Jennifer Spies.
