According to the IB learner profile reflective students “thoughtfully consider the world and [their] own ideas and experience. [They] work to understand [their] strengths and weaknesses in order to support [their] learning and personal development.”

Teaching your students to reflect on their learning is an important part of positive life long learning. Reflection empowers your students to consider their actions, behaviour and learning, and analyse personal strengths and weaknesses. 

Having time to be reflective helps your students focus and then modify their actions and work in a purposeful way. Give yourself plenty of opportunities for teaching reflection strategies, including individually, in groups and pairs. Also, provide opportunities for written, verbal or visual reflections. Here are a few questions you can ask your students to get them started:

• How do you think other people see you? Do you think it is the same as you see yourself?
• Do I interact with other people in positive ways? 
• In what ways could you improve your social interactions?
• Think about the ways you work? Are there any improvements you could make?

Teaching reflection strategies is just one part of the self-reflection process. We need to monitor whether a student’s reflections lead to action; are they making the necessary changes or refinements. We can help them keep on track and support them in finding ways they can improve on past actions and learning. As their self-awareness develops their ability to self-monitor will grow.

It is not just your student’s academic progress they should consider. Self-reflection helps them make changes to improve their interpersonal skills that affect family, friends and the wider community.

In a previous post, 36 of the Best IB Learner Profile Reflective Books I have put together a list of picture books you can use to help students reflect on their learning.