So…I finished reviewing the first reflection assignment I challenged my GATE/PreAP students to complete, and I have to say that I am quite impressed with the results!

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I ended up giving my students several options for their blog assignment:

• Individual or with partners
• Blog (written) or vlog (video)
• Public (world-wide) or semi-public (viewable by class members only)

Some students created their blogs using Wix, Weebly, and even YouTube. Quite a few opted to use Google Slides for their reflections. Either way, I loved the creativity that was reflected in many of their entries! Some students jazzed their blogs up with still images, creative fonts, or animations. I also had those who were to the point (nothing fancy, just the facts, Jack). I especially enjoyed the blooper real my trio of bloggers did for their YouTube video! Middle schoolers are so neat!

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure how this was going to work with my students. I mean, I only have them for 20 weeks, and we have a ton of things to learn. I was thinking that adding a bi-weekly reflection was going to be too much, but I think it will be fine…I just need to cut something somewhere else. I believe that having the students reflect on their learning will be more beneficial to them in the long run anyway.

I have committed to blogging alongside of them, so I will be posting my thoughts here on a regular basis. This is a learning journey that I am excited to be a part of.

The best is yet to come. I can feel it!