Reflection is an important part of our practice at Sabot. Taking a moment to be more intentional, to turn our minds on and think back over our experiences can bring important insight and added value.

What does that look like in Kindergarten? Were there other places we could utilize this practice? We began to look for ways we could add to our practice of reflection without feeling burdensome or too complicated for us or the children. We wanted simple moments of reflection that would deepen the work of the class.

The children are beginning the work of observational drawing this year. They pause to notice and try to capture what they see from natural objects like our pumpkins, orchids and sunflowers. They see the details like the shape of the leaves, the color of the petals or the textures of the stem. They work to capture them through drawing. As teachers, we typically help them to date their drawings and note the object they were observing on the page. What if we had them pause for a single moment of reflection about their experience– just one quick thought?

Later, we stopped to study the thoughts of the children that we had recorded. We started to notices groupings. Many of the reflections they shared could be linked to one of the Habits of Mind (16 Habits of mind from Costa and Kallick). Here are a few examples.

Taking Responsible Risks

Tristan

Before: “I can’t draw flowers.”

After: “I did this SO good.”

Josie

“I’m proud of the whole thing because I didn’t think I could do it. I’m surprised about drawing the petals.”

Katori

“I hadn’t done this one before but I tried. I got better and I felt proud. I never knew I was not going to give up.”

Striving for accuracy

Will wanted to attempt the orchid for a second time.

“This is WAY better because I put more circles on better this time.”

Griffin

“I tried to get the right color for it.”

Sabine

“I was proud of the petal. I got the right shape.”

After trying the pumpkin leaf for a second time, Cameron named all of the parts he was able to capture.

“I’m just really proud how I did the spikes and I am also proud I did the stem and the middle. The top looks like a dragonfly head.”

Persisting

Sean

“I worked harder and harder until I got it. It took a long time.”

Kiyan

“I waited patiently to see what it would turn out like. I’m proud of the shape of my leaves.”

In the end, we felt like the thirty seconds that it took us to ask and record their reflections brought an added dimension to the work. We have always valued observational drawing because of the dispositions it fosters– it has helped us take on new challenges, work to be accurate and learn to push through hard things. Now, through reflection, the children were coming to value the process too.

Are there other places we could add reflection in simple, meaningful ways?

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