Have you ever used glyph crafts with your students? I love them – it’s such a fun way to target tons of skills, and share in our own uniqueness by looking at the end product! Using them as reflection tools is a great way to encourage this deeper social emotional learning skill in a really non-threatening way. Let me show you!
School breaks
A natural way to promote reflection is to have students reflect, or share, on their experiences. A big one we teachers often focus on is school breaks. I know I always had students reflect on their weekends when they returned to school on Mondays. School breaks are also a natural time to teach a bit about reflection. How was your winter break? What did you do? Are you excited to be back at school? Want to take these questions up a notch? Insert glyph crafts!
Students get a question sheet that asks them reflective questions about their school break, like how they would describe the time and if they’re excited to be back at school. Their answers dictate what pieces they’ll use in their craft. This is what makes this type of activity a glyph craft! Students then gain access to the pieces that match their responses, and they build their craft. I like adding in a writing component so they can explain a bit about their answers. As students get older, there are often reflective questions asked of them on assignments. This type of activity is excellent practice and gives them scaffolding to know what to write about.
Reflecting on SEL skills
Reflection on events is beneficial for many reasons, and helps ease students into the idea of reflecting. The real magic can come in when students begin reflecting on SEL and academic skills. What about reflecting on friendships? Self-esteem? Their progress in math? These can be excellent small group activities, glyph crafts to create before conferences, or check-ins to see how specific interventions might be going.
This friendship castle glyph craft is a great example of how students can reflect on a portion of their life that we may need specific insight on.
Unexpected benefits
Glyph crafts teach reflection, yes, but they also target other skills! These activities can be awesome generalization of fine motor skills students may be targeting, direction following, and frustration tolerance! Students can also work with a partner after completion to share their final result. This can be a way for students to practice partner work, or even presenting their glyph craft to a class or small group.
Do you have bulletin boards or doors that you need to decorate in your classroom/school? The finished product of these activities is SO cute. They are perfect for decorating in a way that is still meaningful.
All of these glyph crafts are available individually, or in a bundle if you would like access to ALL of them at a lower price!
