Reflect on the process
Help students look at how they worked, not only what they produced.
Guide
Routine #5 — Retrospect Guide
A practical guide for helping students reflect on how the sprint went, name what helped or got in the way, and improve how they work together next time.
Best for
- Classroom
- Learning Sprints
- Feedback & Reflection
- Student Teams
- Continuous Improvement
Use During
- Retrospect
- Review
- Check-In
What it helps with
Name patterns and roadblocks
Surface habits, collaboration moves, support needs, and friction that shaped the sprint.
Improve the next sprint
Turn reflection into one or two concrete changes students can try next time.
Preview the guide
When to use it
- At the end of a Learning Sprint.
- After Review, once students have evidence from the work and feedback.
- When a team needs to improve collaboration, communication, or follow-through.
- After a project, presentation, prototype, or group challenge.
- When students need practice turning reflection into action.
How it works
Return to the sprint experience.
Ask students to think about the work, the collaboration, and the learning process.
Notice what helped.
Name routines, behaviors, supports, or choices that made progress easier.
Notice what got in the way.
Surface roadblocks, confusion, delays, uneven participation, or unclear expectations.
Choose one improvement.
Keep the next step specific enough for students to actually try in the next sprint.
Make the commitment visible.
Capture the improvement on the Learning Canvas, team agreement, or next sprint plan.
Why the Retrospect routine works
Retrospect helps students build the habit of improving the way they learn, not just finishing the assignment. It gives teams a structured moment to notice patterns, name what mattered, and decide how they will work better next time. The routine keeps reflection practical. Instead of ending with broad statements like "communicate better," students choose a visible improvement they can practice in the next sprint.
Skills & Alignment
This resource supports reflection, collaboration, communication, self-management, and continuous improvement. These are suggested connections, not a formal standards alignment.
IB Learner Profile
- Reflective
- Communicators
- Thinkers
- Caring
IB Approaches to Learning
- Self-management skills
- Communication skills
- Social skills
- Thinking skills
21st Century Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Self-direction
- Critical thinking
- Continuous improvement
Inquiry Practices
- Reflection
- Metacognition
- Revision
- Feedback
- Evidence-informed improvement
What's included
- A downloadable Retrospect routine guide with prompts and facilitation support for helping students reflect on the sprint and choose a concrete improvement for next time.
Related resources
Ready to improve the next sprint?
Download the free Retrospect guide and help students turn reflection into a clear improvement for next time.
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