Help Students Reflect on Their Learning (Marzano Dq 12)

Have you ever spent a lot of time planning a lesson?  Found all the perfect resources?  Maybe even practiced part of it in front of a mirror?  Then, when you deliver it, it bombs?  Your students just don't get it?

Me too.  When that happens, we, as great educators, take a step back and troubleshoot what went wrong to make sure it future lessons don't bomb in the same way.  Marzano's 12th element, Help Students Reflect on Learning, is the student version of that.

Below are some things you (or an administrator) could look for to see if this element is being used in your classroom:

Students can...

• explain what they understand and what confuses them.
  
• display a growth mindset toward their learning.
  
• ​explain what they could have done better.
  

Teachers might...

• ask students to record what confuses them and what they understand.
  
• utilize reflection activities.
  
• ​ask students to record their level of effort 
  

I utilize this element on a daily basis in my instruction.  Each class period begins with students filling out their learning log.  Students record the day's learning target and rate their beginning level of understanding on a 0-4 scale.  Each class period ends by students re-examining the target and rating their ending level of understanding.  I also require them to provide evidence: Why are you a _____?  What else must you learn?

If you would like a ​FREE copy of my learning log, click the link below.

• ​Learning Log