How to Use Reflection to Increase Children's Learning in Kindergarten
- 1). Create a journal for each child in the class. You can provide one-subject notebooks for each child in the class, or create your own journals using materials you already have in your classroom. Choose two pieces of construction paper, and place 15 to 20 sheets of copy paper between the two colored pieces of construction paper. Staple along the edge to create a book. These journals will fill up quickly, and you will be able to economically create more as needed.
- 2). Allow children to choose a journal. Give each child a choice of which color they would like to have as their personal journal. Tell the children that the journal is a place for them to write about the things that happened during the day at school, or to remember an event that happened in the past and write or draw about it. Tell children that these are their own personal journals and their work will not be displayed for others. This way, they will feel free to share whatever is on their mind, rather than worrying about who will see their private thoughts.
- 3). Give children a chance to decorate the journals. Be sure to tell them to write their names on the front, but then allow the children to decorate their journal cover in whatever way they would like using stickers, markers, crayons, watercolors or any other art materials. Allow students to store their journals in their cubbies or other personal space.
- 4). Create a journal writing time in your everyday schedule. In order for children to practice their reflection skills, schedule a time each day for journal writing. Ideally, this will be at the end of the day so that children can recall the day's events or lessons. Fifteen to 20 minutes should be sufficient, but be conscious of the fact that many children may need longer to collect their thoughts and decide what to write.
- 5). Have a few guided journal questions available. If children are at a loss for what to write in their journal, provide a bucket of questions or topics from which to choose. The questions can range from "What do you want to be when you grow up?" to "Write about the best Christmas present you ever received." These questions or topics should allow children to reflect on events of the past.