Two pedagogical practices.

I often open and close the college writing classes I teach with two low-stakes writing assignments. One is called “Draw Your Feelings,” although participants do not always physically draw during it. Sometimes students post memes, images, or GIFs that express how they are feeling in that particular moment. My closing activity is a reflection essay, or exit ticket. I often ask students to discuss one thing they learned that day and one thing they need clarity on. I will sometimes switch up the questions during the semester to avoid monotony and increase student engagement.