Students Reflect While Learning

Teachers at Montgomery and Taft Middle Schools are inviting students to participate deeply in their learning through active questioning and reflection. To frame their learning, teachers are asking students to consider important questions as they begin each class period: What am I learning? Why am I learning it? How do I know I have learned it? Reflection questions like these are encouraging students to think beyond simply arriving to a classroom and being directed by teachers. Rather, they are being given space to reflect on the impact of their learning in the larger context of how the skills and knowledge can be transferred beyond just that classroom and into other classes, as well as into their personal lives. It’s an effort to make learning more visible, and it’s working. Already in just a few short weeks, students have become more active and engaged participants in the learning process. Teachers believe that this type of engagement will lead to deeper learning, better preparation for high school, and ultimately, more thoughtful citizens.