Celebration and
Reflection
This time of year is exciting! It is fast paced, busy, and
exhausting, but it is also the time we start seeing the fruits of our labors.
We get to see the results all of the hard work that both we have done and our
students have done; it is truly amazing! We are getting to the time of year
where we are in celebration mode- it is a great time. It is important to
remember to take time to reflect on the year so that we can grow in our craft.
It is imperative to remember to reflect on the year before
we go into to summer. If we wait until August to reflect on the previous year,
it is too easy to forget the little things that made the difference in lessons.
We never want to do the same thing we did last year, just because we liked it
or because it is a fun lesson. Each year brings a new classroom of students
with new needs, and by looking at your instruction now, it will save you time
next year. We want to plan lessons for
the students who we currently have in the classroom, by starting with previous
lessons that are successful and adding questions or tweaking the sequence of
the lesson we are tailoring the lesson for the students you currently have.
Look at the practices that have made the difference in our
progress this year. Grade level flexible grouping, small group instruction
tailored to specific TEKS or skills, innovative schedules to help struggling
students, incorporating STEAM activities within your classroom are just a few
of the practices that I have watched transform our students into learners that
strive to learn more than just the minimum. It is exciting to hear stories
about students that have “found their niche” and see how finding it has
inspired them to learn more on their own. We have students that are creating
dioramas at home because they were intrigued by their passion project. We have
students writing their own books to share with their peers, because they have
found a love of writing. We have students closing gaps in all areas- math,
reading, socially, and even with problem solving.
When we say we know our students, we need to look at the
data we are using to make instructional decisions. We are more than STAAR
scores, and I love that we have multiple pieces of data that we use to help us
make decisions for our students. We look at current data, longitudinal data,
and antidotal notes we make during lessons. We look at our students as children
and not as one test score- that is the Schluter difference.
We love to show the amazing things that are happening at
Schluter. If you are not on Twitter you are missing out on a lot of
celebration. From the students participating in the Amazing Race in 4th
grade to the technology challenges, you will see incredible learning happening at Schluter.
It is a great to see our students in their learning environments. It does not
show everything that is happening, but it is showing off our students- it is
amazing!
Make sure you take the time to celebrate all the successes
of your students, your team, and yourself. Be vocal, be showy, be proud.
Everyone has worked hard for the accomplishments that have been achieved this
year. Then, before you get into summer mode, take time to look at what lessons
and conversations were the game changers this year. It will help you next year
when you are planning for your new group of students.
