What Worked This Year? A Quick Reflection Guide for Teachers

Finally, we’ve made it to summer break. No more papers to grade or tests or quizzes to create. No more lesson planning. Just the sweet relief of hearing that final bell.

But before you pack up your desk and hop on a beach-bound plane, it’s important to spend a few minutes reflecting on the school year you just completed. What went well? What went better than expected? Where do you need to improve for next year?

Below is a quick teacher guide for end-of-the-year reflection (emphasis on quick) to help you make the most of the lessons you learned this year. You’ll figure out what you want to keep, adapt, and/or scrap to set yourself up for even more success next year.

Reflecting on the 2025-26 School Year

Briefly consider the prompts below. Move quickly, without spending too much time on any one question. The point is to capture your ideas while they’re fresh, but you don’t need (or want) detailed notes or a novel. Think: big-picture highlights.

You also don’t have to answer every question. If it resonates, reflect and jot down your thoughts. If it doesn’t, move on to the next question.

Celebrating Successes

Let’s start on a positive note: What went really well this school year?

• What am I most proud of from this school year?
• Which moments or achievements brought me the most joy or fulfillment in my teaching?
• What went better than I expected, and what contributed to that success?
• What feedback or gratitude from students, families, or colleagues meant the most to me this year?

Classroom Management

Classroom management can make or break a school year. Sometimes, even a small shift can make a big difference in how the school day functions.

• What classroom routines or procedures worked well this year, and why?
• Were there any recurring behavior challenges? How did I address them, and what could I do differently next year?
• How well did I build relationships with my students? Were there any students I struggled to connect with, and why?
• What’s one routine or procedure I definitely want to keep for next year?
• What’s one routine or procedure I definitely want to change?

Family Relationships

Communicating with families is a critical part of the job. Some years, establishing a solid line of communication feels effortless. Other years, it’s more of a struggle.

• What communication methods seemed to work best this year (email, sending notes home in folders, the school app, etc.)?
• Were there any barriers to building strong relationships with families? How might I overcome those next year?
• Am I happy with the boundaries I set around family communication? Is there anything I want to change for next year?

Instruction

You probably had units that students loved and a few activities that flopped. Now is a good time to reflect on why and what you can keep or change next school year.

• Which lessons or units were the most engaging and effective? What was my favorite lesson to teach? What did students seem to like best?
• Which lessons or units didn’t go as planned? Are there any common threads to adjust for next year?
• What’s one new strategy I want to try next year to increase student engagement?

Work-Life Balance

If you let it, teaching will take up every hour of every day. Establishing boundaries is the only way to sustain a long career in education.

• How well did I manage my workload to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
• Overall, did I feel at ease and well-adjusted this school year? Or was I more often stressed and overwhelmed?
• What’s one step I could take to improve my well-being next year?

Career Development

The day-to-day work of teaching is enough to overflow any to-do list, but it’s important to maintain a focus on professional development and career growth. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to leave the classroom and move into a school-leader role (though it could!); it just means you need to grow and develop each year.

• What was the most effective professional development I completed this school year, and why?
• Are there any PD courses I’d like to skip next year (if given the option)?
• Are there any specific skills I’d like to focus on developing next year? What opportunities, especially school-funded, might be available?
• Where do I want to be 3 years from now? Are there any skills, certifications, or experience I’ll need to meet that goal?

Closing the Book on This School Year

Writing down your thoughts now gives your future self a roadmap. When you return to your classroom in the fall, you can look back at these notes and have a clear record of what worked and what needs an update.

Ok, it’s time. Turn off your alarm clock, grab an ice-cold drink, crank up the tunes, and have a great summer break.

See you next year!

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