Transcript

Hey Teachers! Welcome to the Teacher Support Network podcast. I'm Antoine McCoy, and today we're diving into something super important as we approach the last stretch of the school year-pausing and reflecting on what has worked and what has been the most challenging parts of your teaching practice thus far into the school year.

We all know how fast time flies in the classroom, and before we know it, we'll be wrapping up the school year, but before that happens, let's pause and reflect and see how we can finish this school year off strong. So today I'm gonna be sharing five essential reflection questions that every teacher, whether you're a general education or special education, should ask themselves to finish this year off strong and to set yourself and your students up for success. So grab a notebook, a cup of coffee or tea, pause, and just take a deep breath as we walk through these key questions together.

Question number one- How have your students progressed academically, socially, and emotionally this year in your class? This question helps us really celebrate the successes of our students and then also recognize where students may still need support.

Maybe you've seen incredible growth in a struggling learner in reading.  Or you notice that a student who was once shy is now participating more. On the flip side, are there students who still need a final push before the summer? So an action step would be to take a few minutes to jot down some notes on individual student progress, and if you notice gaps, what are some small interventions or supports you can put into place before the school year ends?

Question number two- What instructional strategies have been most effective for you thus far in the school year and how can you keep students engaged through this final stretch? We've all had those lessons that just clicked and others that, well, you know, just didn't, now's the time to reflect what really worked and what bombed.  How can you make these last few weeks count? 

So one action step would be to identify one strategy that's been really successful for you this year and double down on it. Maybe it's something that deals with student choice, maybe hands-on projects that you might have done, or some collaborative learning activity. Just lean into what's been working more. 

On the flip side of that, maybe try a new and fresh strategy. This will help mix things up and you can test out to see how it will work with your students. If it works, maybe it's something you can add to your instructional teaching arsenal at the start of next year. Right now you're just kind of giving it a try and just kind of feeling it out since students trust you and they know who you are. 

Question number three- How well have you worked and collaborated with fellow team members, co-teachers, support staff specialists and families this year? We all know teaching is never a solo act.

Whether you're a Gen Ed or SpEd teacher, communication with each other is key in supporting all students, especially students with disabilities in your classroom. So, one action step would be to reach out to your school-based teams and check in if you haven't already or if you haven't done it in a while.

Think about how you can collaboratively work together to support students in this final stretch of the school year? 

Question number four- How can you maintain a positive and structured classroom environment in the final months and the weeks of this school year? Okay, let's be real. This time of year can be really tough when it comes to classroom management.

The sun is out, it's testing and assessment season, and there are not many extended breaks or days off before the last day of school. Spring fever is real, y'all. You know what I mean? Students and teachers are ready for summer and that energy can lead to disruption and a lot of disruptions in the classroom. So instead of letting things slide, now is the time to really reinforce your procedures, your routines, and your expectations, and practice them repeatedly with your classroom. 

Our last question, question five. And we're gonna be talking about you as a teacher specifically.

Question 5-How have you grown as an educator this year, and how can you take care of yourself moving forward? Teaching is hard and reflection isn't just about your students, but it's about you too.  So what's one thing you've learned about yourself this year? 

Maybe you've built stronger relationships with specific students, fellow colleagues, or parents. Maybe you've tried a new teaching strategy that worked, or maybe you've navigated through a tough challenge in your classroom or in your own personal life. There's so many different things that you may have been trung to work on this year for yourself. So a next step might be to choose one way to prioritize your wellbeing these last few months and weeks of the school year.  Whether that's setting better work-life boundaries, being intentional about a specific self-care practice that works for you, or even planning for professional growth in the summer and getting set for that now. Knowing that you can start the school year off stronger by having some new tools in your tool belt. 

Whatever you choose, just make it meaningful for you so you can fill your own cup and be the best version of yourself in these next few months and weeks ahead.

All right, so let's re recap these five powerful reflection questions discussed in this episode and make them really personal as you do this. 

• How have my students progressed academically, socially, and emotionally this past school year?

• What instructional strategies have been most effective thus far in the school year, and how can I keep students engaged through this final stretch?

• How well have I worked and collaborated with fellow team members, co-teachers, support staff specialists and families this year?

•  How can I maintain a positive and structured classroom environment in the final months and weeks of the school year? 

• How have I grown as an educator this year and how can I take care of myself moving forward?

So here's your challenge. Take 10 to 15 minutes this week and reflect on these five questions. Journal out your answers and for a bonus, share your ideas with a fellow colleague if you feel comfortable so they can help keep you motivated and accountable for the remainder of the school year. 

All right. That's it for this week's episode. If this episode really resonated with you, please share it with a fellow teacher and leave a review for me on your favorite podcast platform. Also, you can go to the episode show notes, visit the resource section, and grab our free General and Special Education Teacher Collaborative Conversations Guide to help you with some more collaborative conversations as you move through the end of the school year.

Finally, if you're listening to this episode on the go, you can read this week's episode's transcript that will have the reflection questions laid out for you to revisit when you have some quiet time to pause and reflect. 

Remember, reflection isn't just about looking back. It's about using what we've learned so far to move forward with intention.

So until next time, remember to keep showing up. Keep making a difference like you already are, and take care of yourself. Talk to you soon. Bye now.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram,