Reflection 10 (Allison Burt)

1. Discussion on the importance of setting aside time for reflection.

Reflection is an important aspect of learning. When you set aside time for students to self-reflect on their overall work and accomplishments throughout a project it helps them understand what knowledge they had gained. Since each day you learn new material and move on the next day it is easy to forget what you had previously learned. Making time for reflection helps instill learning and students analyze what they had learned.

2. Discussion on the reason students need to reflect and elaborate.

Students need to reflect and elaborate to grow/expand in their thinking. Have your students take the lead for what they want to do next regarding projects. Students are very clever with developing ideas so go off of their interests. Teachers should set their students up for a challenge by incorporating previous skills they taught them to apply in multiple subject areas. Also meaningful work is what motivates students to learn. Overall, students should “elaborate” on their thinking so they can reflect what they have previously learned in order to expand their ideas/visions.

3. Discussion on how schools build tradition and identity.

Schools build tradition through generations of students. Students share what they may have done previously in a grade with their younger siblings, which prepares them of what they have to look forward to. Inviting community members to your school while doing traditions helps you, as a teacher build positive relationships. Teachers should share their students’ accomplishments and how hard work pays off. Building community relationships builds on to your support as a teacher.

4. Discussion on the importance celebrating a project.

Displaying and celebrating a project allows students to take pride in their work. Celebrating your students work also builds a positive identity to your school that learning is fun, especially through projects. One idea mentioned is displaying students work in the local library. This makes students feel good about themselves with their accomplishments, and gives them a sense that their work is being “published.” As students celebrate allow them to take the lead! Students should be in charge of the theme, decorations, games, and food. All learning is worth celebrating!

5. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

This chapter relates to our project because we are having a celebration at the end. Our celebration is based on a theme, “staying healthy.” Also my team members had to plan the event, guest, and place. For planning, we had to analyze and reflect on our ideas to create the “celebration,” staying healthy workshop.