Memorable Moments: Two Quick-Write Closure Activities for End-of-the-Year Study Groups and Staff Meetings (TEMPLATES)
Every teacher's path in improving their instruction is paved with individual milestones. In the rush of end of the year activities, it's sometimes hard to take time to notice and celebrate those milestones. These two quick-write activities are ideal for the start of a final study group, mentor meeting, or faculty discussion about plans for next year.
"I Used to...But Now I..." is designed to help colleagues think through the changes they've made in their instruction. Distribute copies of the template available at the link below. Participants quickly jot down changes in the way they teach. After five minutes of silent writing, ask everyone to share why they changed, and what lessons there are in the changes for planning for next year:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/iusedto.pdf
"Aha! Moments" is a template with a similar theme, but it takes participants a little more deeply into actual moments of change in the classroom. Participants write down classroom incidents that provoked thinking, reflection, and growth for 5-10 minutes silently on the template at the link below, and then discuss as a group why these moments were milestones:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/thisyearsahamoments.pdf
If your staff enjoys the activity, it's a great ritual to institute annually. You might even save copies of this year's quick writes, and distribute them next spring to spark additional reflection on what makes us change our teaching year to year.
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