Closure with Care: UDL Strategies for Ending the School Year with Reflection and Feedback
- Emily DesJardins
- May 16
- 6 min read
Posted by: Emily DesJardins, M.A., SpED, UDL Content Lead, Open Access
The season has shifted in schools across the country—field trips, end-of-year celebrations, report cards, and spring festivals are in full swing! For students, this time of year is buzzing with energy and excitement. For teachers, it's often a mixture of anticipation, exhaustion, and yes—some joy, too.
But amid the chaos and celebration, it’s worth asking: Are we making time to reflect? Not just as individuals, but as classroom communities?
Reflection isn’t just a feel-good ritual or a way to wrap up the year—it’s a powerful, brain-based learning strategy that supports deeper understanding and retention.
Reflection and UDL: A Natural Connection
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines emphasize the value of reflection and feedback throughout the learning process. Some considerations make this explicit—like “ Offer action-oriented feedback” and “ Promote individual and collective reflection.” Others imply it through their focus on metacognition, self-regulation, and engagement.
Making time for reflection isn’t extra—it’s essential. So, what makes it so powerful?
The Neuroscience of Reflection
Reflection activates and strengthens neural pathways, helping students (and adults!) consolidate learning and make meaning of their experiences. According to the BrainFirst Institute:
“Neuroscientists have found that reflection strengthens neural pathways by reinforcing the connections between neurons (synapses) involved in thinking and memory. This process, known as synaptic plasticity, is crucial for learning and adapting new skills and behaviors. The act of reflecting on our experiences can literally change
the structure of our brain.”
This is why structured time to think back on successes, challenges, and growth isn't just emotionally satisfying—it's neurologically beneficial.
Individual + Collective Reflection: A Dual Path to Deeper Learning
Reflection is even more powerful when it happens in two dimensions: independently and collectively.
Individual reflection helps students process their learning personally. It activates regions like the prefrontal cortex and the default mode network—areas associated with memory, insight, and self-awareness (Immordino-Yang et al., 2012). It gives students a chance to internalize what they’ve experienced and apply it moving forward.
Collective reflection taps into the social nature of learning. When students reflect together—through storytelling, discussion, or collaborative activities—they not only gain diverse perspectives, but also engage in interpersonal neural synchronization, a brain-alignment phenomenon shown to increase empathy, understanding, and engagement (Dikker et al., 2017).
By incorporating both types of reflection, teachers can support personal growth and community-building in ways that align beautifully with UDL principles.
Making Reflection Fun, Practical, and Impactful
Let’s be real: teachers work incredibly hard. We deserve strategies that are high-impact but low-prep—and reflection is exactly that. It doesn’t need to be formal, lengthy, or complicated. In fact, it can (and should!) be joyful and creative.
One easy activity: Ask students to reflect on what helped them learn this year and name two things that would have helped them learn even more. This gives you feedback, models how to give and receive constructive input, and fosters metacognitive growth.
You can do this through:
A letter to the teacher
A reflection journal
An anonymous Google Form (Feel free to copy and adapt this Google Form for your own use!)
Interested in MORE Reflective Activity Ideas? Here is a list of Independent and Collaborative Reflection Activities. Looking for a ready-to-use lesson plan, complete with materials, directions, and a rubric? Ask LUDIA, the free UDL-powered AI chatbot hosted on the Open Access Website. Just input the prompt listed below and ask for a full lesson plan, any specific supports you might prefer, and even a rubric to assess!
Independent Reflection Activities
1. Reflection Journals Prompt: What was the most significant lesson you learned this year? Why did it stand out to you? How has it changed the way you think or act? Tip: Students can journal once or revisit the same entry multiple times to add depth.
2. Personal Growth Timeline Prompt: Identify three key moments of growth this year—challenges you overcame, habits you developed, or goals you reached. Where did they happen on your timeline? How did each moment shape you? Tip: Encourage students to add symbols or colors to represent emotions or milestones.
3. Letter to Myself Prompt: Reflect on your successes and struggles this year. What advice would you give your future self? What do you hope to remember or improve next year? Tip: Seal the letters and hand them back to students at the start of the next school year.
4. One-Pager Reflection Prompt: Create a one-page visual summary of your learning experience this year. Include quotes, drawings, key words, or short reflections. Tip: Great for combining creative expression with critical thinking.
5. Visual Reflection Prompt: Create a visual representation of your favorite classroom memory or learning moment this year. Why did this experience stay with you? What made it meaningful? Tip: Students can choose between drawing, collage, or digital art.
6. Podcast Reflection Prompt: Record a 1–3 minute podcast sharing a story about something you learned and why it mattered to you. What surprised you? How could it help you in the future? Tip: Encourage students to listen to each other’s podcasts as a class activity.
7. Mind Map Reflection Prompt: Create a mind map of your learning journey this year. Start with a central concept or subject and branch out to important skills, projects, and experiences. Tip: Use different colors or symbols for academic, social, or emotional growth.
8. Drawing Reflection Prompt: Draw a timeline or comic strip of your year, highlighting challenges, achievements, and memorable moments. How did your learning evolve over time? Tip: Let students narrate their drawing to a peer or small group.
9. Digital Reflection Blog Post Prompt: Write a blog post titled "What I Learned This Year." Include reflections on personal growth, academic breakthroughs, and surprises. What will you carry with you into the next year? Tip: Encourage students to add a photo or illustration.
Collaborative Reflection Activities
1. Class Reflection Wall Prompt: Write your favorite memory, most valuable lesson, or proudest moment on a sticky note. Place it on a wall so everyone can see and celebrate. Tip: Group the notes by themes (e.g., friendships, learning, funny moments).
2. Group Discussion Circles Prompt: Share a moment you’re proud of, a challenge you overcame, and something you learned from a classmate. What role did the group play in your growth this year? Tip: Use a talking piece or question cards to facilitate turn-taking.
3. Peer Interviews Prompt: Interview a classmate about their learning journey. Ask questions like: What was your biggest surprise this year? Who helped you most? What’s a moment that shaped you? Tip: Students can present each other’s stories to the class.
4. Reflection Poster Project Prompt: In small groups, create a poster that showcases your collective learning. Include quotes, images, keywords, and fun moments. What represents your class identity this year? Tip: Posters can be displayed during an end-of-year celebration.
5. Collaborative Reflection Video Prompt: Create a short video featuring each group member sharing one powerful memory or lesson. How have you supported one another this year? Tip: Keep it simple—video clips can be recorded using phones or tablets.
6. Storytelling Circle Prompt: Sit in a circle and take turns telling a story about a meaningful learning experience. What did you learn? How did you grow? Tip: Encourage active listening and optional follow-up questions.
7. Group Reflection Survey Prompt: Work together to design a short survey for your peers. Include questions like: “What was your favorite lesson?” or “What could we improve as a class?” Tip: Collect responses anonymously and discuss trends as a group.
8. Reflection Gallery Walk Prompt: Each student posts a short reflection on a wall or desk. As classmates walk around, they leave comments or emojis to celebrate each other's insights. Tip: Use sticky notes for kind feedback or connection points.
9. Team Reflection Challenge Prompt: In teams, design a short learning game or trivia challenge that highlights your class knowledge and experiences. Can you stump your classmates? Tip: Encourage creativity—students can use Kahoot, board games, or skits.
10. Collaborative Digital Document Prompt: Contribute to a shared digital space (Google Doc, Padlet, etc.) with your reflections, photos, or artwork. As a class, what story does it tell about your year together? Tip: Share the final product with families or next year’s students.
References:
BrainFirst Institute. The Neuroscience of Reflection and Learning. BrainFirst Institute, 27 Sept.
CAST. Universal Design for Learning Guidelines, Version 2.2. CAST, 2018,
Dikker, Suzanne, et al. "Brain-to-Brain Synchrony Tracks Real-World Dynamic Group Interactions
in the Classroom." Current Biology, vol. 27, no. 9, 2017, pp. 1375–1380.e3. Cell Press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.002.
Immordino-Yang, Mary Helen, et al. "Rest Is Not Idleness: Implications of the Brain’s Default
Mode for Human Development and Education." Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 7, no. 4, 2012, pp. 352–364. Sage, https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691612447308.
LUDIA. POE, powered by Quora, 2 May 2025, poe.com/LUDIA.
