Reflection is how people learn and grow. Education is too complicated a profession to feel you can script every lesson and be successful. Since teaching looks more like tinkering based on inquiry than a set formula, it is important for teachers to reflect on formative information. 

 

When a teacher practices reflection she becomes in control of her own learning. A teacher who reflects is empowered to evaluate and improve the interactions in her class. Nancy Dana and Diane Yendol-Hoppey organize reflection into different passions, some of which I list below. 

• Helping the Individual Child 

• A Desire to Improve or Enrich Curriculum

• Focus on Developing Content Knowledge 

• A Desire to Improve or Experiment With Teaching Strategies and Teaching Technique

• A Desire to Explore the Relationship Between Your Beliefs & Your Classroom Practice 

• Focus on Understanding & Teaching and Learning Techniques 

 

 

Reflection helps teachers overcome "immunities to change" where your beliefs subconsciously sabotage achieving your goals.