Reflective Writing: A Year in Review

Introduction (Warm-up & Objective)

(Teacher says, as students are settling in)

"Good morning, everyone! Or good afternoon, depending on when you're joining me. As we near the end of the school year, it's a fantastic opportunity to pause and look back at everything that's happened, all the growth you've experienced, and the incredible journey you've been on. Before we dive in, let's do a quick warm-up.

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 1: A Year in Review! What's one word that describes your school year?)

"Take a moment to yourself. Think about your entire school year, from the very first day until now. Consider the big moments, the small victories, the challenges you faced, and how you've grown. Can you distill all of that into just one word? Don't overthink it, just let the first word that comes to mind surface.

"Now, turn to a partner or a small group and share your word, and perhaps give a super quick reason why you chose it. You've got about three minutes for this quick share."

(Allow 3-4 minutes for sharing, then bring the class back together.)

"Alright, let's hear a few! Anyone brave enough to share their word with the whole class?"

(Call on 2-3 students to share, briefly acknowledging their responses.)

"Excellent! Those are some powerful words, and I can tell you've all had unique experiences. Today, we're going to dive deeper into those experiences. Our goal, as you can see on the screen..."

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 2: Today's Goal: To reflect on your academic year and express your journey through creative writing.)

"...is to reflect on your academic year, identifying those key learning experiences and personal growth, and then to articulate these reflections through a creative writing piece. This isn't just about reviewing your report card; it's about recognizing your own story of the year."

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 3: Why Reflect?)

"Why is this important? Well, reflection helps us do a few things:

• Celebrate Growth: You've achieved so much, sometimes without even realizing it!
• Learn from Challenges: Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and reflecting helps us understand those lessons.
• Prepare for the Future: Understanding your past helps you make informed choices for your future.
• Express Yourself: This is your chance to use your unique voice and creativity."

Guided Reflection (Individual & Group)

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 4: Flashback! Key Moments)

"Now, let's get into some deeper reflection. I want you to grab a notebook or a piece of scratch paper. I'm going to put some prompts on the screen, and I want you to quickly jot down any keywords, phrases, or short sentences that come to mind for each one. Think of this as a brain dump – no need for full sentences yet, just capture your thoughts."

"First set of prompts:

• A moment you felt incredibly proud? This could be academic, personal, an extracurricular achievement, anything where you felt a surge of pride.
• A challenge you faced and overcame? Think about something difficult, and how you pushed through it.
• Something new or surprising you learned? Maybe it was a new skill, a new fact, or even something new about yourself or others."

(Allow 3-4 minutes for silent reflection and jotting notes.)

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 5: Who, What, Where?)

"Let's move to the next set. Think about:

• A person who significantly impacted your year? Who was a mentor, a supporter, a challenger? What did they teach you or how did they help you?
• A place (in school or out) that holds a strong memory? Is there a specific classroom, a spot on campus, or even a place outside of school where something memorable happened?
• A feeling that defined a particular period of your year? Was there a time of excitement, frustration, joy, determination? What caused that feeling?"

(Allow 3-4 minutes for silent reflection and jotting notes.)

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 6: Growth & Change)

"Finally, let's think about your personal evolution:

• How have you changed since the beginning of the school year? What's different about 'you' now compared to September?
• What's one piece of advice you'd give your past self (from September)? Knowing what you know now, what wisdom would you impart?
• What's one thing you're taking with you into the summer or your next chapter? A skill, a lesson, a mindset?"

(Allow 3-4 minutes for silent reflection and jotting notes.)

"Now, take a minute to quickly review all your notes. See if any themes emerge, or if there's one particular memory or feeling that really stands out to you as something you want to explore further."

Introduce Creative Writing Assignment

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 7: Your Story: Creative Writing Assignment)

"Okay, fantastic reflection work! Now, here's where the creative part comes in. We're going to use these reflections as the foundation for a creative writing assignment. This is your chance to turn your year's journey into a piece of art, to capture its essence in a way that's meaningful to you."

(Distribute the Creative Writing Assignment handout.)

"Please take a look at the handout I'm passing around, 'Creative Writing Assignment: A Year in Review.' On this sheet, you'll find the full details of the assignment. The core idea is to choose a creative writing form that best allows you to express your year-end reflections.

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 8: Choose Your Form:)

"You have many options! You could write a:

• Poem: This could be free verse, a sonnet, a haiku, or even a spoken word piece. Poems are great for capturing emotions and imagery.
• Short Story: You could create a fictional narrative inspired by real events or feelings you had this year.
• Personal Essay: A non-fiction piece where you reflect directly on your experiences.
• Dramatic Monologue: Imagine yourself, or a character representing you, speaking their truth about the year.
• Song Lyrics: If you're musically inclined, express your year through song.
• A Series of Journal Entries: You could write several entries, each focusing on a different significant moment or period."

"The key is to choose a form that feels authentic to you and helps you best convey your reflections. Your piece should be a minimum of [Teacher to insert length requirement here, e.g., 500 words or 2-3 pages]."

(Distribute the Creative Writing Rubric handout.)

"Now, let's talk about how this will be assessed. Take a look at the 'Creative Writing Rubric' handout."

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 9: How You'll Be Graded:)

"We'll be looking at four main areas:

• Depth of Reflection: How well do you explore and analyze your experiences from the year?
• Creativity & Originality: How unique and imaginative is your chosen form and expression?
• Clarity & Expression: Is your writing clear, well-organized, and does it effectively convey your message?
• Craft & Mechanics: This includes your use of language, grammar, spelling, and punctuation."

"Review the rubric carefully. It's designed to give you a clear understanding of the expectations for this assignment."

Brainstorming & Planning

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 10: Brainstorm & Plan!)

"Alright, you've done the deep thinking, you know the assignment. Now it's time to brainstorm and plan your creative piece. Look back at the notes you just took during our guided reflection."

"Ask yourself:

• Which of those moments or feelings really jumped out at you? Which one feels like it has a story to tell?
• Which creative form do you think would be the best fit for that story? If you have a powerful image, maybe a poem. If you have a sequence of events, maybe a short story.
• Start outlining your ideas, or if you prefer, just start free-writing to get your thoughts flowing. Don't censor yourself right now; just put words on the page."

(Circulate around the room, offering individual guidance and answering questions for approximately 20 minutes.)

Begin Drafting

(Display Reflect & Write Slide Deck Slide 11: Time to Draft!)

"We have about 15 minutes left in class today, and I want you to use this time to begin drafting your creative piece. Remember, this is just a first draft. The goal is to get your ideas down, to start shaping your story."

"Don't worry about perfection right now. Just focus on getting your reflections and chosen creative form onto the page."

(Allow students to begin writing independently.)

"Before you leave today, a quick reminder: Your final draft of the creative writing assignment will be due on [Teacher to insert specific due date here]. We'll have opportunities to work on this more, but get a strong start today. Happy writing, and I'm excited to read your reflections!"

(Teacher collects any necessary materials or dismisses class.)

Creative Writing Assignment: A Year in Review

Due Date: [Teacher to insert due date here]

Assignment Overview

This assignment invites you to reflect on your academic year and express your unique journey through a creative writing piece. Throughout this year, you've experienced growth, overcome challenges, celebrated successes, and learned valuable lessons. This is your opportunity to capture the essence of your year in a meaningful and imaginative way.

Your Task

Choose ONE of the following creative writing forms to express your reflections on the school year:

1. Poem: Write a poem (free verse, sonnet, ode, spoken word, etc.) that encapsulates key feelings, moments, or transformations from your year. Focus on imagery, metaphor, and evocative language.
2. Short Story: Craft a fictional narrative that is inspired by your real-life experiences, challenges, or personal growth during the year. You can use symbolism, alter details, or create fictional characters to explore your themes.
3. Personal Essay: Write a reflective non-fiction essay that directly explores your most significant memories, lessons learned, or personal development over the course of the academic year. Use descriptive language and insightful analysis.
4. Dramatic Monologue: Create a monologue where a character (who could be a version of yourself, or a symbolic character) delivers a speech reflecting on the year. This piece should reveal their inner thoughts, feelings, and the impact of the year's events.
5. Song Lyrics: Compose a set of song lyrics (at least two verses and a chorus) that tell the story of your year, focusing on emotional impact and narrative progression through music.
6. Series of Journal Entries: Write 3-5 distinct journal entries from different points in the school year, each capturing a significant moment, thought, or feeling that contributes to your overall reflection on the year.

Requirements

• Length: Your creative piece should be a minimum of [Teacher to insert length requirement, e.g., 500 words, 2-3 pages typed, or 25-30 lines for poetry].
• Reflection: The core of your piece must clearly reflect on your experiences, learning, and/or personal growth from the academic year. This should be evident through your chosen narrative, themes, or explicit reflections.
• Creativity: Demonstrate originality and imaginative use of your chosen creative form. Don't be afraid to experiment with style and voice.
• Clarity & Cohesion: Your writing should be clear, well-organized, and flow logically, making it easy for the reader to understand your message.
• Craft & Mechanics: Pay attention to your use of language, vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Your writing should be polished and demonstrate strong writing skills.

Planning Your Piece

Use your notes from our guided reflection session today to help you plan. Consider:

• What specific moments, emotions, or lessons do you want to highlight?
• Which creative form will allow you to best tell your story?
• What tone do you want to convey (e.g., humorous, serious, hopeful, nostalgic)?
• How can you use literary devices (metaphor, simile, imagery, symbolism) to enrich your writing?

Submission

Your final creative writing piece should be submitted by [Teacher to insert due date here]. Please ensure your name and the title of your piece are clearly visible.

Good luck, and happy writing! I look forward to reading your reflections.

Creative Writing Rubric: A Year in Review

Assignment: Creative Writing Assignment: A Year in Review

Student Name: ________________________

Scoring Guide

Teacher Comments:

Overall Score: ________ / 16