Personal Reflection Essay 2009
The goal for any student is to become an active learner rather than a passive one. Active learners are aware of their strengths and weaknesses as they learn. They strive to improve to become a better student. You are being asked to take a healthy look at yourself- what you are already doing well, where you need to improve, and to set goals for the next quarter. You will be sharing these insights with your parents whether you conference at home or at school with me. Please read the directions below VERY carefully.
Write a paragraph for each of the sections below. Answer ALL of the questions in each section. The entire first draft (parts 1-10) is due on Wednesday, October 28, but there will be interim due dates. We will work on this essay in class, but you will need to type what you've written at home each night. Read and discuss the content of this essay WITH your parents, then ask them to sign it at the bottom and write a brief response to YOU. The final, revised and edited essay with parent signature and comments (to you) is due on Monday, November 2. (Attach the first draft also.)
DUE Tuesday, October 21 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
_____ 1. Admirable Attributes: Describe two of your best attributes (personality traits) and give examples. Then write about a third attribute that you would like to have or improve. Tell why you would like to be more ___ and how you plan on achieving it or improving in this area. (attributes = character traits, e.g. cooperative, kind, logical, outgoing, artistic, organized, etc.)
_____ 2. Citizenship: Discuss your rating on the Citzenship Rubric. How do you rate yourself in and outside of the classroom? Consider your behavior, work habits, social skills, and class participation. Do you stay on task, or do you need frequent intervention? Do you participate in class voluntarily and if so, how often? Do you get along well with others? Do you make an effort to make friends or make others feel welcome or worthy? Are you sociable, or perhaps too social at times in the classroom? What are you doing well? In which areas do you need to improve? How will you make these improvements? Be specific.
_____ 3. Work Habits: Good work habits at home are also essential to being a successful student. * How much time do you spend, on average, doing homework for humanities? Other subjects? Is this actual work time, or do you daydream, fidget, doodle, or get easily distracted? * Where do you do your homework? Is this the best place? * How do you handle interruptions, such as phone calls? * Do you use your Eagle Planner to begin homework? Do you need to be reminded to start homework or are you self-directed? Do you complete your homework on time? When you have a long-term project, do you work on it a little each night, or do you procrastinate and wait until the last minute? *What are you doing well and how can you improve your homework habits? Be specific. * How are your work habits at school? Do you come to class prepared with all assignments and required supplies? Are you attentive? Do you stay on task? In collaborative groups, are you an asset or a liability? Explain! Do you work well with others when it’s required? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
DUE Thursday, October 22 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
_____4. Listening and Speaking are two important Language Arts skills. Are you a good listener? Do you listen when the teacher is speaking? How about when your peers are called on to speak during a discussion? On a 5-point rubric, how do you rate yourself right now for listening? Explain, using the descriptors on the rubric. What areas of listening do you need to improve? * Speaking: Do you participate in class discussions voluntarily? How often? Do you speak clearly and loud enough for all to her? * We will begin Public Speaking (speeches) in second quarter. What concerns do you have about speaking in front of a large group?
_____5. Discuss your work in the Spelling, Vocabulary and Sentence Pattern program. What is your average for vocabulary quizzes and tests? …for Sentence Patterns? Do you study your vocabulary flashcards every night for 5-10 minutes? Do the review games help you learn? Do you have a better strategy for learning these words? If so, explain it. * Is your Language Arts spiral well organized? Are your assignments and notes in the appropriate section, labeled, complete, and accurate? Do you work neatly and carefully? * Discuss your scores on the Fall 09 MAP test for Language Usage. Be specific. What are you doing well? In which areas do you need to improve? * How will you make these improvements? Be specific.
DUE Friday, OCTOBER 23 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
_____6. Describe yourself as a reader: * Are you an avid reader (one who reads constantly) or a reluctant reader? What kind of books do you enjoy reading? Fiction or non-fiction? Mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, romance, biographies, or ??? * How are you doing in literature/reading this year? Discuss your grades on comprehension quizzes for our first core lit novel (Sarah Bishop, My Brother Sam Is Dead, or Johnny Tremain). How did you do on the first literary terms test? Why do you think you earned these scores? Give specific reasons. * Discuss your scores on the Fall 09 MAP Reading test. Do you agree with these scores? Why or why not? * What areas of reading would you like to improve in: literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, literary response and analysis, word analysis/vocabulary, reading fluency, reading frequency (reading more often)??? Describe your plan for becoming a better reader.
DUE Monday, OCTOBER 26 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
___ 7. Discuss your work in social studies: * What is your current
grade in social studies? Why? * Which of the following help you learn
best:
reading & taking notes, creating interactions, reading and answering questions, watching a video &
taking notes (during or after the video), Web Quests, TCI activities?
* Do you ever review
your notes or interact later with your notes? * Do you complete all
assignments? Are you a careful, thoughtful reader or do you just skim the text
and look for answers? Do you stop while reading and answer the
Checkpoint Questions? If you can't answer one, do you go back and re-read? * Is your spiral well-organized and neat? Are all
assignments dated and labeled? Do you keep the Contents updated? * Discuss
your scores on quizzes and tests. HOW do you study? How much do you study
when you know you have a test? * In what area of social studies do you want to
improve? How will you do this? Be specific.
DUE Tuesday, OCTOBER 27, 2009 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
_____ 8. Writing is an important skill that helps you communicate
what you know to others. How do you feel about yourself as a writer at this
time? Refer to the Six Traits Writing Rubric to determine where you currently
are as a writer in terms of CONTENT, CONVENTIONS, ORGANIZATION, and WORD
CHOICE. * Refer to your Small Moment Story: Did you write a step-by-step,
descriptive account of a memorable moment (hour, day) rather than just
summarize? Did you include some showing writing v. telling? Does
your story use imagery (sensory language)? Did you bring your story to closure
with a concluding sentence of some sort? What do you like best about your SM
story? * What type of writing do you enjoy the most? Creative
writing, poetry, essays, research-based reports? Why?
DUE Wednesday, OCTOBER 28, 2009 (Typed, edited, printed copy):
_____ 9. CONCLUSION: How do your current grades in Social Studies
and Language Arts compare to what you know about yourself as a student? Are
they better or worse than this time last year? Do your grades reflect your true
ability, or could they be better if your effort improved? Explain. Do you ask
for help when you need help? Do you come in at lunch for help or to work on
assignments when you need extra time? (Do you come in at lunch when you are
REQUIRED?) In what area of humanities are you doing the best right now? Why?
What area of humanities is your weakest? Why? How can you improve in this
area?
COMPLETE in CLASS on Friday, October 30, 2009:
_____ 10. Now that you have reflected on your progress so far this year,
it's time to set some goals. Look back over this essay and complete the
GOALS & ACTION PLAN chart. Be specific. Attach this to your essay.
DUE Monday, November 2: (Do this during the weekend of 10/31-11/1.
Do NOT wait until Sunday night!)
_____ 11. On Saturday or Sunday, sit down with your parent(s) and read and discuss the content
of this essay AND your GOALS & ACTION PLAN. Then get his/her/their
signature(s) and comments on the essay. Get a signature on the MAP charts
for Reading and Language
also.
_____ 12. Turn in all of the above (1-11) on Monday, November 2, 2009. Take a deep breath and sign with relief; you are done with this! ;-)