The 5-Minute Reflection

Try this sometime:  After the final bell rings, sit in your desk chair (I assume yours is the big, comfy one),  take a few, slow, close-eyed breaths, and empty your mind.  Wait until the White Noise outside the room stops. Wait until the hallway is quiet. Wait until all of the students have made it to the bus, the library, or their parole officers.  I’m kidding, of course.  You can start before they reach their parole officers.  

Once you’re in touch with your breathing and your mind calms, open your eyes, think back over your day and ask yourself these questions (note-taking is optional):

How did it go?

What could have gone better?

What will I do differently next time?

And most importantly:  What went right and What will I continue?

This process should take five minutes or less, but it’s a great way to stay present in the moment and reflect on the direction of your journey.  This process would work equally well, of course, for anyone–whether you are a plumber, a bus driver, a baseball player, or a candlestick maker. But as a teacher, taking the time now and then for a focused, five-minute reflection will also bring you a step closer to a more Zen-filled classroom experience.  TZT