“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.”  — Margaret J. Wheatley

The last blog post and email of the year is here!  There is a week and a half left of my district’s semester and boy are we all counting down the days.  Hours even!  

The last day or two prior to break is oftentimes one of low attendance and high energy and expectation.  Students are eager to get out of school and begin their vacation, or family time or friend time, or for most of them, just to relish in not being at school.  

Unfortunately, it’s been my experience that oftentimes the students who look forward to breaks the most, are the ones who struggle the most and have done the least.  These couple of days can be great to use to have students reflect on the rapidly dwindling semester, and have them think about areas that they did well in and areas they would like to improve in next term.  

Therefore, I’ve added a reflection questionnaire to my Free Little Resource Library.  It can be used for pretty much any secondary grade level and any subject.  Though I do collect them, they are not graded.  They are just to flip through and get an idea of what the general consensus of improvements-to-be-made is amongst the students is.  That way, come second semester I can share the findings with the classes and encourage them to move forward strongly into the Spring.  The image below is linked to the handout if you’re interested in using it.

Looking for something a little more festive and academic?  I don’t tire of using Saki’s “Bertie’s Christmas Eve” or my analysis for “Auld Lang Syne,” though the “Auld Lang Syne” resource is geared toward upperclassmen and may be difficult for the early secondary years.

Free is for me!  Take students on a cultural Christmas jaunt with this freebie below!

Have a wonderful break!  That New Year and second term will be here before we know it!

M.D. Saints
Reading the Rapids
Liberty Dog Writing Co.

My practically perfect Brannagh being practically perfect by tolerating her Christmas gear (and really trying for some Christmas Day dinner).  I had to give her back to Jesus two years ago, but, these are so festive and she was such a great girl that here they are!