Reflect & Celebrate

Just recently, I had an experience that highlighted for me (once again) the importance of celebrating milestones and successes in the classroom…for both students and teachers alike. 

Each day in the classroom as we go about our routines, it can sometimes be difficult to realize the growth and gains that are being made while we are in the midst of all of the learning that is happening each and every day.  Ending the quarter always proves to be such an amazing time to progress share and reflect back together on where we were, and how far we’ve come.  I recently dedicated small group time to doing just that with students.  Sitting and really just having a celebration when looking back at our first attempt at our benchmark writing pieces, compared to an end-of-the-quarter piece.  There is always a place to celebrate on the rubric, as well as a place to think about where we want to go next and set goals in achieving.  This was such an important time for the students, and I believe such a crucial, relationship-building piece.  In family life, we celebrate the milestones whether it be with birthday cakes each year, Thanksgiving dinners, doorframes in countless homes that mark how many inches the children have grown, or the thousands of other ways we come together to reflect and measure growth.  Building a classroom family requires that same time and attention to celebration…and, like many things it is easy to sometimes feel that there isn’t enough time.  I truly believe stronger connections lie on the other side of celebrating and reflecting together. 

Sometimes, after years of teaching, these reminders of why something is so important catch us at the most perfect times.  Times when we may have let the importance of things that are a cornerstone in our classrooms get a bit wobbly, or need some dusting off.  I feel so grateful to recognize these moments and polish up what has collected a bit of dust and debris as the year whirlwinds by and the busy weeks sometimes leave us as teachers feeling like we haven’t ever done enough…ever! So, I am making it a priority to take the time to not only dedicate the time and attention to celebrating successes with students, but also I am being more mindful to transfer this to myself, and my successes as a teacher whether that be the small day to day successes, quarter to quarter, or reflecting on all of the highlights on “the life rubric” through the years.