Teacher Reflection and Planning

Yarn line projects: Creativity focus

Well, at last I am writing again!  Here's to summer almost over, and planning and reflecting on last year and what will be for the future.  At the end of the year I asked my 2nd-5th grade students to fill out a postcard  and on it, write about their favorite projects and what they learned. After reviewing 400 or so of them, I wrote down tally marks for each project completed, noting which were favorites, and any comment students made.  Then, I asked myself the following questions.  You see, as a result of my Masters class, I have learned it is always a good practice to reflect and improve my teaching methods/lessons.   Here are the questions and my answers. 

Year End Reflection

1)  What projects were most successful?  Why?
Mixed media; watercolor pencil, team projects, oil pastel, food projects, unusual techniques. 
Why?  Most had never used media before, Projects most successful had no parameters, but focused on creativity. Team projects!

2)  Why did some of the schools (I have 4) embrace the project while others didn't?
Attitude toward school in general, students' individual needs (Special Ed), Not sure. 

3) Why did I chose not to do some of the  projects I had on my Year Plan?
Lack of time, lack of resources (supplies),  was certain some schools it wouldn't work  due to students' special needs, not able to do because of space restrictions.

4) What could I do better to choose more engaging projects?
Pretest to find out what they know? Use more links to artists/art history, technology, think more creatively, find more resources (not just technology).

5)  Did I meet my goal I set  (real world applications)?  
Yes for some of the schools. 

6)  What goal should I address this next year?
The Learner   How they learn.

7) Will I use the goal to plan my lessons toward achieving it?
Yes

Then I made notes.  Find new books, put a creative spin on projects I've done before, but try it out on a few schools, keep incorporating new media, promote recycling, appeal to parents and teachers to help save recycled projects for art projects:  boxes, used bulletin board paper, pop bottles, used file folders, any used colored paper, etc.  Decorate rooms according to school theme. 


So, ask yourself some questions to this end. I hope this has helped you think and reflect and plan for the new year coming up.  I'm kind of excited about trying out some new projects on my students this year. Onward!