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Ever find a mirror that makes you look outstanding? We all have these mirrors in our homes. It’s that one mirror you look in before you leave the house to make sure you’re rockin’ it. The ideal reflection.
We often take professional reflection as a vanilla, monotone, one-dimensional action. What did you just learn? How does it influence you? What can you do about it? These are standard questions that are asked after we participate in PD.
There’s nothing wrong with asking yourself these questions. However, we need to spend time recognizing which mirror we’re looking in when we answer them. Are you responding in the context of the ideal mirror?
Today’s cohort face-to-face should have provided a tremendous amount of inspiration and energy (it certainly did for me!). As we reflect on our experience, we need to take extra time to understand how this newly found motivation is going to translate into next Tuesday afternoon when we’re comfortably back in our routines.
Reflect well and think of that ideal scenario where your action plan is working effectively. Pursue that vision with reckless abandon!
Thanks @jwood! What great sentiments. Now I just have to find a way to make sure every cohort member reads this. A perfect spring board for the homestretch 🙂 Good luck with your action plan. If you need help you know where to find us 🙂
Such a great mindset to start a new term, a new year and many new experiences. When you find yourself challenged to find the ideal as you continue to explore and grow, what might you do to remind you of the sentiments you have described here?
Grateful for your positivity, desire to try something new, to explore, but above all to reflect deeply on your practice.
This is such a great post and you have absolutely nailed it! Learning happens in reflection and sometimes I think teachers are a little too critical of themselves in those reflections but with the right mindset we take that learning and grow from it.
Is this something you’re doing with your students as well? How do you get at reflection in class?
How’s the action plan coming along? It was great to hang out after the F2F and looking forward to connecting!