How Your Reflections Are Read
A student guide to the PHW Reflection Rubric
Why We Reflect
Reflections are where the training becomes yours. Quizzes check what you know; reflections grow who you are becoming as a Perinatal Health Worker. There are no trick questions and no "right opinions." Your facilitators read for one thing: the depth and honesty of your thinking.
The Four Levels
Retelling
You repeated what the module said. Accurate — but we can't hear YOU in it yet.
Understanding
You explained it in your own words and said why it matters. This earns full credit.
Connection
You tied it to something real — a lab moment, something you noticed in yourself, or how you'll use it with a family. This is the goal for most reflections.
Transformation
The reflection changed something in you — you questioned an old assumption, sat with discomfort honestly, or saw the bigger system differently.
What counts for credit: Level 2 and above receive full credit. A Level 1 isn't a failure — you'll simply get a note and one chance to go deeper. Aim for Level 3; welcome Level 4 when it comes.
How to Go Deeper — Ask Yourself
What did this remind me of — in lab, in my community, in my own life?
What did I feel while learning this, and what does that feeling tell me?
What would this look like in MY hands, with a real family in front of me?
What did I assume before this week — and do I still believe it?
Sentence Starters That Pull You Toward Level 3 and 4
Your Story Is Yours
You choose what to share. You never have to disclose personal trauma to earn any level — a strong connection can come from a lab exercise, an observation, or how you imagine your future practice.
Write honestly, write safely, and know that what you share is treated with care.
At a Glance
| Level | Name | Credit? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retelling | Revise once |
| 2 | Understanding | Full credit |
| 3 | Connection | Full credit — the target |
| 4 | Transformation | Full credit — celebrate it |