Self-assessments can be a very useful tool in the classroom. When students reflect on their own learning, they are better able to understand and measure their growth. Additionally, you can use self-assessment for students to make grading & report cards easier for YOU!
Let’s get into why it matters, how to introduce and use it, and how it can help you with report cards.
Why Self-Assessment for Students Matters:
When students are given the chance to reflect, some pretty great things happen!
Student Voice Grows: Self-assessment invites your students to look closely at their learning progress, create and connect with their goals, and take more ownership over their progress. They get familiar with rubrics and expectations, which often leads to stronger performance.
Parents Feel Involved: Parents appreciate seeing their child’s perspective included in report cards, and student reflections are a simple and stress-free way to incorporate it! It allows them to focus on student accountability which takes a bit of the “heat” off you since it creates a more collaborative approach to the reporting process.
It Builds a Growth Mindset: Reflecting on strengths and identifying areas for improvement helps students stay goal-oriented and motivated to keep growing. It’s also an important skill that will help them into adulthood, so practicing in school is a great way to make it a habit!
Introducing Self-Assessment in a Supportive Way:
It’s totally normal for students to feel unsure at first, self-reflection can be daunting! Measuring growth is new and might even feel a bit uncomfortable for some students, but with some guidance, self-assessment for students can become a regular and meaningful classroom routine. Here are a few ways to get started:
Normalize the Process: Let students know that reflection is something everyone does—including teachers. It’s a tool for learning, not a judgment.
Model It: Share examples of thoughtful, balanced self-assessments. Talk through how identifying both strengths and goals can help with progress.
Use Simple Prompts: Keep it low-pressure with neutral and clear language. Try prompts like “One thing I did well is…” or “One thing I want to improve…” to get them comfortable with thinking about their strengths and weaknesses.
Practice Regularly: Like any skill, self-assessment for studetns improves with time and repetition. The more you implement it, the more natural it becomes. It’s a great life skill you will be helping them navigate!
Easy Ways to Use Self-Assessment for Students in the Classroom:
There are lots of flexible ways to work self-assessment for students into your classroom. Here are three you can use right away—especially around report card time:
Assignment-Based Reflections: Ask students to reflect on a project or assignment before they submit it. They can use the rubric or respond with a quick note about their effort, understanding, or growth. This helps them check the expectations and take ownership before the final grade is given. Check out this blog post for a specific example on how to craft a self-assessment friendly rubric!
Subject-Based Reflections: Have students look at their work across an entire subject area for the term. They can reflect on where they’ve grown and where they still want to improve. Try using formats like “One star (a strength) and one wish (a goal) are…”) or “One success and one goal for next term are” to help them get comfortable!
Self-Assessment for Students in Learning Skills: Invite students to assess themselves on skills like responsibility, collaboration, and self-regulation, it makes them see learning as collaborative and allows you to understand their thought process when it comes to their skills.
➤ FREEBIE: My Learning Skills Self-Assessment Google Form (also included in the Learning Skills Generator resource) makes this super easy to gather and review digitally!
What to Do With Student Self-Assessments
Once students have completed their self-assessments, they can serve multiple purposes:
Check for Alignment: Compare their reflections with your assessments. It’s a helpful way to see how students view their progress.
Guide Meaningful Conversations: If there’s a difference between your evaluation and theirs, use it as an opportunity to chat about goals, challenges, and next steps.
Incorporate into Report Cards: Use their reflections to support your report card comments and highlight student voice.
Set Future Goals: Use self-assessment for students as a launchpad for setting goals together for the next term. It helps keep momentum going and encourages personal growth.
Self-Assessment is your Friend!
Creating time and space for self-assessment for students is a simple yet powerful way to support independent learning, bring student voice into your classroom practices and help you write report cards that reflect their goals and progress. Whether it’s through quick reflection assignments, end of term reviews, or learning skills check-ins, these small moments of reflection can have a big impact. When report card season rolls around you’ll be glad you made it a regular part of your routine! Need a quick and effective way to get started? Check out my Learning Skills Generator! It includes a student-friendly Google Form that makes collecting and using self-assessments for students a breeze.
