Why Teachers Should Complete a Yearly Review
A reflective Why Edify podcast episode exploring why teachers should complete a yearly review and how reflection supports wellbeing, resilience, and sustainable teaching.
A reflective practice that builds resilience, not pressure
By the time the school year ends, most teachers are running on fumes.
The natural instinct is to shut everything down, recover as best we can, and move on. And rest absolutely comes first. But after the rest—after the nervous system settles—there’s a quiet opportunity many teachers miss: reflection.
In this episode of the Why Edify Podcast, I talk about why completing a yearly review is one of the most powerful (and underrated) practices teachers can use to support wellbeing, resilience, and long-term growth.
Not because it’s productive. But because it helps things make sense.
🎧 Listen to the Episode (Audio)
This episode is best experienced as an audio listen—on a walk, during a commute, or in a quiet moment when you’re ready to slow down.
The conversation is reflective and unpolished by design, recorded with teachers’ real energy levels in mind.
Why Reflection Works (Especially for Teachers)
A yearly review isn’t about judging your year or holding yourself accountable in harsh ways. It’s about integration.
Research shows that structured reflection helps:
- Consolidate learning so it actually sticks
- Reduce stress through emotional processing
- Counter negativity bias (our tendency to remember what went wrong)
- Decrease rumination by helping the brain “close the loop”
Writing experiences down—especially challenging ones—can clarify thinking and lighten emotional load. For teachers, that matters.
What a Yearly Review Really Does
When done gently, a yearly review helps you:
- Capture meaningful moments you might otherwise forget
- Name wins that deserve recognition
- Identify patterns in where your energy went
- Decide what to carry forward—and what to let go
It turns a long, demanding year into something coherent.
One of my favorite closing practices is choosing three words that sum up the year. It’s simple, surprisingly revealing, and often brings a sense of closure that teachers don’t realize they need.
A Question to Sit With
As you listen, consider this:
If you had to sum up this past year in three words, what would they be—and why those?
There’s no right answer. Just information.
📺 Prefer to Watch? (Video Version)
If you’d rather watch or listen on YouTube, the full video version of this episode is available below.
Want Support as You Reflect?
Inside the STRONG Teacher’s Lounge, you’ll find a guided Why Edify Yearly Review—available as both a PDF and a writable document—along with prompts, research context, and a community of educators reflecting together.
It’s a calm, protected space away from social media where these conversations can go deeper.
If you’re ready to reflect without pressure, you’re welcome to join us.
