As the year winds down, I always love having my students reflect and share their thoughts about the year. In a similar way as my reading interest inventory questions, I take a slightly different approach to my students’ end of year reflection. This post will share the reflection questions and some different ways to implement them in your classroom to help your students reflect on the year (and set goals for the next year).
The free end of year reflection prompts shared on this post now include a digital version for use with Google Slides! See the section titled Digital End of Year Reflection Prompts for more details!
About the End of Year Reflection Questions
The free download (available near the end of this post) contains thirty end of year reflection questions in two formats: task card format and as a printable list. You can choose to use whichever format you want and whichever questions you want.
Here are some example reflection questions that are included:
- If you could go back in time and restart the school year, what would you do differently and why?
- What were your favorite parts of this school year?
- What one word would describe this school year? Explain why you chose the word.
- What was your favorite non-academic activity or event from this school year?
- What was the best day you had this year? What made it the best?
- What was the most interesting skill or topic you learned this year?
- What was something that was difficult for you at first but is now easy?
- What do you wish that you had studied or learned this year?
- What did you accomplish this year that you are most proud of?
- What was your favorite book you read in school this year?
- What essay or story did you write that you are most proud of?
- How prepared do you feel for next year?
- What is a goal you have for next school year?
- What one piece of advice would you give the students who will be in this grade next year?
Using the End of Year Reflection Questions
You have a lot of flexibility based on your schedule and your students in regards to how you want to use these end of the year reflection questions.
Here are some ideas:
1-2 Reflection Questions a Day – Allow your students to reflect on the year during the entire last month of school by projecting or reading one of the reflection questions one to times a day. You could have your students discuss their answers with groups or partners (they love this and it doubles as a brain break) or have them record their thoughts (recording sheet included in the download).
Scoot Activity – Take a class period and have the students “play” SCOOT with the reflection questions. To do this, simply place a card on each desk. Have the students rotate (at your signal) around the desks until they have answered all of the questions.
Around the Room – Tape the cards around the room and have the students work in pairs or triads to answer the questions. You can rotate the students at your signal or allow them to move around freely. If you allow them to move around freely, I recommend having a rule that no more than one pair/triad of students can be at a card at a time.
Center or Station – Use the task card version and place the questions at a center. Have the students answer the questions on the recording sheet or discuss their answers with their groups.
Digital End of Year Reflection Prompts
This free end of year reflection activity is now available in digital format with Google Slides. When you download the PDF (from the next section), you will find the links to access the digital end of year reflection prompts on the first page.
Here are some ideas for using these free digital end of year reflection prompts:
- Assign one prompt at a time.
- Assign several prompts at a time for completion within a specified time frame.
- Assign several prompts at a time but allow students to choose a specific number to complete from the total assigned.
Need help assigning Google Slides through Google Classroom? Click here!
Download the End of Year Reflection Questions Here
Need End of the Year Math and Literacy Activities?
Are you still needing academic resources to engage your students until the end of the year? Check out these end of the year activities (with digital activities) for math and literacy.
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Want More End of the Year Activities?
Click on the links below to see more end of the year activities and printables, including more freebies!
End of the Year Literacy Activities and Ideas
End of the Year Math Activities and Ideas
FREE End of the Year Writing Prompts
End of Year Activities to Prepare Students for the Next Grade Level
Thank you!! Great Ideas
Thank you. I am trying to find a way to have them work well with Office 365 since that is the platform our district uses.
Hi Jennifer! Thank you for the end of year reflection slides activity! It appears someone has to sited the first/title slide. It doesn’t have the same cutesy feel as the others. Am I correct? Is there a way to get the original?
Thank you! These are perfect! Do you have a teacherspayteachers shop?
Hello Ms. Findley,
Thank you for sharing your end of the year slides. They are all great ideas.