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Welcome to the Educator's Page for the PTA Reflections Program!
Welcome to the Educator's Page for the PTA Reflections Program!
Let us express our gratitude for your support with this program! You are so important to its success, and you can decide how much you want to be involved. From something simple as collecting entry forms to teaching a lesson on how to reflect and then creating in your classroom, we encourage you to be involved! Please contact your PTA to coordinate.
Teachers, there are so many ways to be involved:
Teachers, there are so many ways to be involved:
Handout and collect Student Interest Forms (provided by your local PTA/PTSA)
Include Reflections in your classroom curriculum
Offer it as extra credit to your students
Include Reflections as part of your after school club
Suggest a friend (an expert in their field) to be a judge
Promote Reflections in your classroom & hallways; a personal invite goes a long way to encourage students
Guide students in writing their artist statement (very important) using the Reflections Worksheet.
Please DO NOT critique or offer creative insights to improve the entries.
General Guidelines
General Guidelines
Each entry must be the work of only one student. Assistance from teachers, parents or friends is not permitted, except in special cases (see the Accessible Arts section of the rules).
Each entry must be original work that relates to the annual Reflections Program theme.
Parents, adults and other children are not permitted to be involved in the creation of the entry except to perform in the categories Dance Choreography, Film Production, and Music Composition. Additional accommodations are permitted in the Accessible Artist divisions.
A student may develop an entry inside or outside of the school.
A student may submit entries in more than one arts area and/or multiple entries in a single arts area.
Each entry must be accompanied by the Student Entry Form, signed by the student and a parent or guardian. Your local PTA/PTSA must provide this form to you as they are specific to each organization.
Participation encourages creativity and exploration. Students should do their best; crooked lines, incorrect musical notes, or misspelled words are welcomed imperfections that authentically demonstrate the student's abilities.
Full PAPTA Official Rules can be found here: 2025-26 Entry Rules
Judging Criteria
Judges look for personal interpretations on the program theme that best exemplify creativity and technical skill.
Interpretation: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the work itself and the artist statement (40 points).
Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation (30 points).
Technique: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area (30 points).
Source: National PTA Reflections Leader's Guide
Sample Lesson Plan - Work in progress (Do you want to help prepare this lesson plan? Contact us, we'd love a teacher's insight)
Categories and Divisions - PTA/PTSAs may offer a limited selection of categories. Ask your local leaders for details on which are offered or offer to help expand what is offered
Theme Search - Our Theme Search is an annual contest to select a future theme.
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