Reflective Journal

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

Please watch this short introductory video on critical thinking and come to class prepared to discuss the video.

Reflective thinking is part of the critical thinking process.

The goal of the Reflective journal is to help the students develop higher-order thinking skills.

We believe it is important to prompt reflective thinking in the intermediate grades to support them in their transition between childhood and adulthood.  During this time period adolescents experience major changes in intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development.  They begin to shape their own thought processes and are at an ideal time to begin developing thinking, learning, and metacognitive strategies.  Therefore, reflective thinking provides the students with skills to mentally process learning experiences, identity what they learned, modify their understanding based on new information and experiences, and transfer their learning to other situations.

In the reflective journal, students will be asked to:

– justify their opinions with reasons and/or text based evidence

– keep the “conversation” going by asking open-ended text-based questions of others and authors

-speak and write in complete sentences so that others can follow their thoughts

-use accurate punctuation and capital letters when writing

 

RUBRIC

Guidelines for Critical Thinking (Rubric)

when….speaking   reading   blogging    writing    living

 

Reflective journal

C-

C

B

A

 

Description

(introduction)

Missing introduction altogether. You situate the reader but forget to explain what it is you are reflecting upon or vice versa, and/or you spend more energy in this section than the last 2. Able to briefly explain what it is you are reflecting upon. Able to situate the reader (where you were, what you were doing etc). Able to briefly explain what it is you are reflecting upon. Able to situate the reader (where you were, what you were doing etc)Explain why you decided to write about it.

 

Interpretation

(Depth of reflection)

Not able to share your opinion or you are not sure of your opinion or ideas. You do not agree or disagree with others and/or authors. Able to answer questions or tell your opinion but you cannot justify them. Able to justify your opinion/s with examples related to your everyday life/world or with something you have read, seen, heard etc.  Able to decide if you agree or disagree with others and/or authors but cannot tell why. Able to justify your opinion/s with examples related to your everyday life/world or with something you have read, seen, heard etc.  Able to express your thoughts followed by “because” and your justification.Able to decide if you agree or disagree with others and/or authors and tell WHY. 

 

 

 

Outcome

(conclusion)

 

Not able to explain/or missing piece of what you learned and how it influences you. Briefly explained what you learned and/or how it influences you. Forgot 1 or the other. Able to explain what you learned and how it influences you but lacks details.Able to make some Able to really reflect on what you learned.Also able to explain in detail how it will influence you in the future. 

Keep the “conversation” going by asking open-ended questions (to push your thinking further) (ie I wonder if… )

Justify

to defend your thinking by showing and telling with text based, personal and/or world-based examples and evidence.

 

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