importance of taking time to reflect

The time we take to reflect on our week allows us to pivot, and adjust the things that aren’t working in our program.

Taking time to reflect on your day or week is especially important when you are starting a new routine or changing a regular routine.

Reflecting on your week:

As you wrap up your weekly lessons, take some time to reflect on what worked,  what didn't work, and where you might have gaps in your lesson plans, or need to make changes to your daily routine. Taking this time each week will help you plan your future lessons, and schedule your days more effectively. You'll be able to add more of what works into your future lessons, and adjust the things that aren't working.

Some Questions you can ask yourself:

What went well this week?
What didn't go well?
What can I change?
Did my lessons achieve their desired outcome?

free reflection form

To help make it easier for you to record your thoughts, I've created this free reflection form for you. Place copies in your planning binder to make it easier for you to remember to include reflection during your planning time.

Make it timely

Reflection is more accurate if it's timely. Consider jotting down daily notes of what you see working, or not working. Add some time to your weekly lesson planning routine to reflect on the past week's lesson.

Reflecting on your students

In addition to reflecting on your weekly plans, and routine it's important to take time to reflect on your students. As you think of their week, and record your observations, ask yourself:

What skills did my student struggle with?
What did my student find boring?
What time of day did behavior challenges occur?
What can I change, or adjust, to make things more or less challenging for my preschooler?

Give your students opportunities for self reflection

Just as it's important for you to take time as an educator to reflect, it's also important for you to encourage your students to take time for introspection.

Helping young children to recognize their own feelings,  recognize the feelings of others, and learn how their actions and behavior affects others, is an important part of their social development.

You might want to:

• Gather as a group and give everyone and opportunity to share something fun from from their day before they go home.
  
• Set up a "Thankfulness Bulletin Board" where parents and students can add sticky notes about things they are thankful for.
  
• Make an end of week video presentation where you share special moments from your week.
  
• Include your students in your planning. Ask them what toys, or activities they would like to add to the classroom.
• Add materials to your writing & art center that encourage young children to recognize others (such as the printables found in our free assessment pack), or record fun things about their day.
  

Reflection is an important part of self care

Reflection is also important in our personal lives. It allows us to look upon our day and reflect on how our habits, and actions contribute to the wellness, success, and happiness of ourselves and others.

Taking some time for reflection will help you to recognize daily patterns, discover your students interests, help  you avoid behavioral problems, and highlight the ways your students learn best-ultimately serving as a powerful tool to help you create effective and engaging lesson plans to support your students.

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Things Childcare Providers Look Forward to Each Week

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