There are many different kinds of learning experiences the child goes through each day. From completing a challenging assignment, to simply reading a new book or playing a new game.

Reflection is a great way to draw out and cement the learning and insights.

Without reflection, our many learning experiences could just fade away, instead of becoming part of our compounded knowledge.

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As you make reflection a part of your and your child’s day, you will learn to find the right reflection technique for each learning situation, specific or more general. 

We usually use the rose, stem and thorn approach or one of its variations (depending on how playful we are feeling) to reflect on our learning experiences of the day. We also use the ‘question stems’ approach to reflect on a specific learning topic or task.

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Also read: Types of Reflection and Key Stages in the Reflection Process

Bonus resource: Get your handy PDF one-pager to help reflect on reflection at the end of this article!

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Reflection Technique #1 

Question prompts or stems

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Question stems are prompts provided by the co-reflector (the parent) who can go down a list of questions that the learner can answer for a specific topic. It helps them arrive at a deeper understanding of the topic they have just learnt. 

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Going through a few of these question stems or prompts may take you in different directions and lines of thought: allow the free-flow thinking to happen for a more diffuse way of thinking about the learning experience.

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‘What’ stage prompts:

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1. What is the point or ‘big idea’ of …?
2. Why is this topic/concept significant? Explain your reasoning
3. Can you outline or create a map of this concept?
4. Can you explain this to a 5 year old?
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‘So What’ stage prompts:

1. How does this topic/concept contrast with/ relate to another related topic/concept?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this topic? When is it most useful/ least useful? Most important and least important about this topic? Why?
3. What evidence/ argument can you present for/against the topic/concept?
4. What if you added XYZ to this concept? How would it change or impact the topic?
5. Do you notice any patterns in this topic and why do they matter?
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‘What Next’ stage prompts:

1. Can you use this topic to create or design a new XYZ? How? Explain.
2. What solutions can you find for XYZ aspects of this problem?
3. What do you think may happen if we combined X and Y?
4. What information would you need to make a decision about XYZ?

Reflection Technique #2

The 3-2-1 approach

This is a simple reflection technique that I often use with my younger child, when it comes to reflecting on specific topics. It involves asking the learner:

• 3 takeaways or things that are now known as a result of the learning (that they may not have known before)
• 2 questions that are still in their mind about the topic or related to the topic
• 1 challenge or aspect that they found difficult and may want to work deeper on

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Reflection Technique #3

Stem, Rose, and Thorn (and its many variations)

This is a reflection technique we often use on the dinner table as a family, and is most useful when reflecting on the day in general and the many learning experiences that occur during the day. 

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This technique also captures more social and emotional aspects of learning aside from the academic or topic based learning reflection. 

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Start by asking around the table: 

• What was the rose (best part of the day)
• What was the thorn (challenging or difficult part of the day)
• What was the stem (things I learnt that moved me forward in any area) 

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Variations include asking what was sweet or bitter about my day, what was bouncy and flat about my day, what was big and small about my day etc. Especially useful with smaller or overly tired kids.

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Reflection Technique #4

Reflection with lenses

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This reflection technique typically works with social or emotional learning experiences. I usually use it after a big fight or meltdown occurs, if my children indicate they are in the mood for it. 

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It is a perspective style reflection and also helps build empathy and helps me and my kids look at the same situation from multiple lenses, acknowledging that different people will see the same situation in different ways. 

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For any situation, follow the what, so what and what next approach. 

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WHAT: ask the child to set context of what happened
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SO WHAT: At the analytical stage, ask the child to reflect with:

• My lens
• My brother’s lens
• My mom’s lens
• My teammate or friends’ lens
• And so on for whatever stakeholders were present in the mix.

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WHAT NEXT: carry on with what next questions such as, what could you do differently next time? What options or resources do you have available? etc.

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Reflection Technique #5

Failing forward with the learning ladder

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All learning occurs in three typical zones. The challenge zone, the learning zone and the comfort zone. In this approach, we start by talking about tasks that were in their comfort zone, and then move onto tasks that took them into the learning zone and finally those in the challenge zone. 

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We often take stock of a particular subject with this technique as well. 

For example, after a week of math, we sit down to list what topics in math are in our comfort, learning and challenge zone. 

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• Challenge zone: I'm starting to understand XYZ but am still confused. Here are the aspects that I need to work on or don't understand that well. Here are the resources I need or help I need. I still need lots of help and feedback to get better.
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• Learning zone: I’m understanding this much better but still need some help now and then. Ask the child to share strategies for ‘what next’. For example, my strategy to improve is to practice this every 3 days for 10 minutes till I am comfortable with it.  I need intermittent feedback and a little help
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• Comfort zone: I fully understand this  and don't need any help with it anymore. I can teach this skill to others.

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This helps us set up a plan for the coming week, clarifying where more or less efforts are needed.

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Make Reflection a Core Part of Your Daily Learning Routine

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Reflection is an important skill for effective learning, and key to any learning process. It completes the process or cycle of learning by integrating and connecting concepts, and deciding concrete next steps for further progress. 

When our children have a better understanding of the learning experience or initiative, they can develop an action plan for performance improvements. 

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When children accept their feelings about what they have learnt, are better able to own their own learning journey. They can also commit and take action for real changes in their learning outcomes. 

This is how reflection can truly transform the process of effective child-led learning.

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Also read:

What is Reflection and Why is it So Important for Effective Learning?

6 Abilities of an Effective Learner

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