Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Acknowledging Students' Unique Experiences

Gen Z is the only generation of students who has navigated distance, hybrid, and HyFlex learning during a global pandemic. Many students have suffered loss in their families and communities. The country continues to experience racial injustice and violence, social protest, and an unpredictable news cycle.

At the outset of this new school year, it is important to take time to reflect on key lessons and takeaways from the experiences students have had and use their input to inform classroom practices this year. 

Journal Reflection Activity

Invite students to reflect in their journals on their experiences from the past year, both the good and the bad, and offer their expert advice for how to cultivate a positive learning environment. Model risk-taking by sharing your own response to each of the following questions. Tell students that you will collect their responses at the end of the reflection time. Assure them their responses will not be shared with classmates unless they choose to share them.

Reflection questions

• Q1: Think back on the past year. What were some positive experiences that you had during this time? What impact did those experiences have on you? Consider experiences in school as well as general life experiences. 
• Q2: What were some negative experiences? What impact did those negative experiences have on you? 

Class Discussion and Follow-Up

If time allows, ask for volunteers to share their response to the first question. Be mindful of the unique vulnerability involved when sharing personal experiences before you and your students have engaged in classroom contracting and relationship building. If you don’t have any students volunteer to share, collect their responses and move on to the next activity. 

Try to find time in the upcoming weeks to follow up one-on-one with students to learn more about how you can support them this year. Short informal chats can go a long way to building trust and a strong student-teacher relationship.

Have students work in small groups to consider what advice they have for you, their teacher, and school leaders about making space for positive experiences and offering support through challenges.

Small Group Discussion

Move students into groups of three and project the following question for them to discuss, recording their ideas on a piece of paper. Let students know that they will be sharing their three pieces of advice with the class.

What three pieces of advice do you have for me, your teacher, and our school leaders to help us create a learning environment in this class and at our school that makes space for your positive experiences and supports you through any challenging ones? 

Class Discussion

Have each group share their words of advice with the class. Take notes on their responses or assign a student notetaker. Use notes from this discussion as the foundation for a classroom contract in the coming class periods.