Doing establishes a place and time for learning, for reflecting. Learning is forward. As I suggested in yesterdays’s post, it’s an important action for an important effect: growth. But, for one to grow, one has to know where and when one began.
The image above was a recent attempt for me to visually frame reflecting for my kiddos, especially in regards to their doing leading to their learning. When they do, they begin the 180 cycle. They have established place–there and here; they have established time–then and now, both of which create the context for the learning forward cycle of looking back and forth between the place and time of their (continuous) doing, which I try to sell as learning (as growing).
We do to learn. We do to grow. And I believe reflecting is the most meaningful measure of growth. Learning is personal, and I think it becomes deeply personal when we get to a place where we feel like we own our learning. So, that, then (again) is the frame I offer my kids.
It is their learning. Though, sadly, most do not believe this. They think that school is being done to them, that it is something out of their hands, that it is about complying, not committing.
I am trying to change this by putting it in their hands, by getting them to do–not to comply with me, but to commit to themselves. Thus, the cycle. Do to Reflect to Do Better.
To my kids:
Do for yourself so you can see for yourself where and when you are in your learning.
We can’t reflect until we do. We can’t do better until we reflect. That has to be the way forward as we just keep moving through the Do-Reflect-Do Better cycle.
At the end, if they didn’t do, they didn’t reflect; they didn’t do better. They didn’t grow (as much as they could have). I want them to grow. But more, I want them to want to grow–for themselves. And I want them to see that for themselves, in themselves, of themselves–in their own reflections.
Tomorrow, I will wrap this up with DOing BETTER.
Happy Sunday, all.
Do. Reflect. Do Better.
How often do you have your students reflect? Did you need to teach/train your students on how to reflect?
We have tried having our 7th and 8th grade students reflect with different prompts and only a few are successful.
Hi, Brian. I am so sorry that I did not get back sooner. Thank you for this important question. Yes, I think we need to give kids consistent practice with reflection–informally and formally. I ask my kids to reflect each day in their journals. I also ask them to reflect on every Learning Check. I have found that it takes time, but with time, kids get better at it, and that’s the goal–with everything. I would encourage you to keep at it. Consistency is key.