Reflection questions for the end of term

Phew. You made it to the end of term.

Congratulations! Take a deep breath and let that sink in. You’ve managed weeks of teaching, mentoring, grading, and planning. I know you’ve had to put other work aside as you focussed on your students.

Whether you’re feeling relieved, exhausted, accomplished, or all of the above—it’s worth doing an end-of-term reflection. This helps you look back, celebrate what’s working, and make intentional choices for moving forward.

Here are some guiding questions to support your reflection:

Reflecting on the past term

• What habits did I cultivate that helped me navigate the term?
• What systems or strategies supported my teaching and workload?
• Where did I feel friction or inefficiency?
• What aspects of my work brought me the most satisfaction? What moments reaffirmed why I do this work?
• How did I positively impact my students, colleagues, or department?
• What challenges did I experience, and what insights can I take from them into future terms?
• How do I want to feel at the end of the next term, and what small shifts might help me get there?

Looking ahead

• What needs my attention now that I’ve been putting aside all term?
• If I were to choose a word or theme to guide my next steps, what would it be?
• What does rest and rejuvenation look like for me in this transition period?
• What personal or professional priorities do I want to make space for before the next term begins?
• What is one thing I can commit to that will set me up for a more sustainable and fulfilling next term?

These questions aren’t about adding more to your plate; they’re about giving yourself space to acknowledge and celebrate what you’ve accomplished and think about what you want to change.

The questions above are inspired by Elena Aguilar’s Questions for Reflecting on a Year of Learning