Giving Thanks and Looking Back

Thanksgiving weekend has a funny way of catching us in the middle of a busy term. But maybe that’s exactly when a pause is most useful. Before leaning into full gratitude mode around the Thanksgiving table, it’s worth turning that same reflective lens toward the classroom.

Reflective practice isn’t a new idea in language teaching, but it remains one of the most reliable ways to grow as an educator. According to Baluchzada (2023), reflecting on the teaching process helps instructors recognize what isn’t working in their classrooms and pinpoint exactly where their students are struggling. That’s a simple description; however, the implications run deep: reflection turns a chaotic teaching week into information you can actually use.

So, as you gather with family this weekend or steal a quiet hour for yourself, consider carving out space for a different kind of gratitude list. Consider the following questions to reflect on:

• What moment from this semester are you proud of?
• Which lesson fell flatter than you expected, and why?
• Is there a student whose progress has surprised you, and what did you do differently to support them?

Baluchzada’s (2023) review of the literature also points out that reflective teaching helps reduce the stress and anxiety that both teachers and learners carry into the classroom, in part because reflection gives us permission to notice small wins. Try writing down your answers. Whether it’s a five-minute journal entry or a quick voice memo what matters is building the habit of reflection.

Reflective practice doesn’t have to be a formal process with rubrics and checklists. It can be as simple as regularly asking better questions about your own teaching. Give yourself the same grace you’d extend to a colleague or a student. Acknowledge the effort, notice the growth, and let that awareness shape what comes next.

References

Baluchzada, S. (2023). Effectiveness of reflective teaching on professional development of English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. MEXTESOL Journal, 47(3), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.61871/mj.v47n3-6