Time to Reflect – 3

5 thoughts on “Time to Reflect – 3”

1. Dana

   June 4, 2017 at 7:01 am

   Since I’m new here, I might be asking a question that has already been discussed, and I apologize. I really think that student self-assessment is crucial for the kids to do so they see how far they’ve come. What do people here do for self-assessments? I was considering doing a monthly one, but I’m wondering if that would be too much.

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   1. Ben Slavic

      June 4, 2017 at 4:01 pm

      Here is one article from 2014 Dana. It talks about how to use one of the big assessment vehicles we have come up with here over the years called jGR:

      https://benslavic.com/blog/jgr-self-assessment/

      If you search “self assessment” in the search bar you may find some more. Actually come to think of it there is a lot of stuff here about that. We went through a phase about five or six years ago on self-reflection. So search that term.

      Also:

      https://benslavic.com/Posters/student-reflection-checklist.pdf
      https://benslavic.com/Posters/student-reflection-checklist.pdf
      https://benslavic.com/Posters/rigor-poster-french.pdf

      And from Ben Lev, a very useful tool:

      https://benslavic.com/Posters/participation-rubric-french-ben-lev.pdf

      I remember being all guns ho about it until I realized that we never had time to do it, and when we did, the kids seemed to be incapable of that sort of thinking. Not kidding. I remember jen was big into it but I think she still is. But I gave up. Just being honest.

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   2. Ben Slavic

      June 4, 2017 at 4:20 pm

      Another thing is that if kids transfer in or have a background in traditional work they REALLY can’t get the concept of self reflection. That first exposure to the language is crucial and can make them incapable of honest reflection. There is one 8th grader, now a 10th grader in New Delhi so you won’t probably meet her, whose first comment of the year to me was “I learn best with worksheets.” And yet she was a gifted actress and artist as it turned out. If you do get any honest thoughts I would love to hear about it. I don’t think there is a lot of that going on in our nation’s schools.

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2. Sean M Lawler

   June 5, 2017 at 4:05 pm

   In line with what Dana is saying, how about helping students understand the nature of acquiring a second language? Perhaps that involves a good dose of self-reflection? As our students move on from us to other teachers and classrooms, we could influence the System more if our students fully grasp the why behind our approach.

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   1. Steven

      June 5, 2017 at 8:37 pm

      Maybe Sean. These questions have me thinking. My self evaluations based on jgr may have just been busy work and students cannot really reflect unless given the evidence. Studenta have responded the best with Bob Patricks freewrite analysis/writing portfolio that notes growth.

      Lastly, since language acquisition is subconscious than trying to think about it consciously may be in vain unless the students were schooled in SLA.

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