HD 450 ELAC Reflective Teaching

Week 6 Agenda
June 15, 2016

Focusing thought: People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are
keyhole-shaped. - Unknown
1. Welcome / Lingering Questions / Return of papers
2. Review of the Process and Purpose of Reflection
3. Observation Analysis - With a partner, discuss what moment from your observation
field notes this week you think is worthwhile and interesting to analyze. Then,
challenging each other and brainstorming together, work through the questions for
your reflection paper (see homework for details).
4. Reminders for Upcoming Assignments
Homework due Week 7 - June 22nd:
1. Complete your Observation Reflection Paper 2: This reflection centers on a specific
child. First, remember to describe the situation you are analyzing in depth (1st
paragraph). This includes your role during the observation, please. Then, in the
body of your paper, consider the following:

a) What is the child drawn to? What might he/she be motivated to accomplish or
understand?
b) Why might the child be playing and talking to others in this way? What do
you think are his/her intention?
c) What ideas (consider developmental themes, theories) might the child be
exploring?
d) How does this scenario illustrate this childs strengths and abilities?
Suggested Length: 3 pages
Possible Points: 20
Due: Next Tuesday, June 21st by midnight
2. Your fourth block of observation time will again be a revisiting of the situation
you chose to focus on from the field notes submitted last week. YOU DO NOT
NEED TO INCLUDE THIS IN YOUR OBSERVATION REFLECTION 2 PAPER, but
take some notes and think about the next steps for that situation, as this will be
included in your observation presentations (these will be made in early July, details
will be discussed next week).
Looking Ahead:
* June 22nd and June 29th classes we will be using the other class textbooks in class and
working on our book reflection assignments for each of those books: tentatively it will
be Puzzling Moments, Teachable Moments on June 22, and When Teachers Reflect
on June 29th. **Before you leave tonight, please mark down on the appropriate sign
up if you DO NOT have a copy of the text**
* We are halfway through the semester!!! Do not forget about that Teaching Role
Model assignment! Make time to get started on planning your concept for this
creative assignment, and to begin to thoughtfully describe in detail your role model.

REFLECTIVE PROCESS - REVIEW

Reflection is learning by experience - sounds simple, but
It is also a metacognitive process - thinking about your own thinking processes, beliefs,
values and understandings, challenging your own ideas, and those ideas prevalent
around you *it does not separate cognition from emotional responses, but encompasses
both*
CAN THINK OF IT AS A 3-STEP PROCESS
1)
first step is to identify the WHAT - What is an experience upon which you need
to reflect - this is to do often with our growing edges - you want to think on
things that are puzzling or challenging to you Describe the experience - you will get better at this with practice, & What makes
it important for you to consciously and purposefully think about this experience
at this time?
2)

Then, you need to ask SO WHAT? - i.e., you begin analyzing that situation
really two parts to analysis What are your understandings of the situation,
and also what needs to be evaluated or challenged? In here, you also want to be
really uncovering what values and any assumptions, that inform your
understanding

3)

Lastly comes the NOW WHAT? An action, or next step, that comes out of the
analysis. Sometimes it might be what ought to be done, and what can be done.
Dont write off, Well, I cant do anything about this because of my lead teacher
or administrator, etc. That may be for the what ought to be done, but you
should also be creatively coming up with little steps you can try to take, the
things that can be done. Consider options!

Why is reflection important ???

deep, accurate self knowledge facilitates teachers engagement with the moral agency
that characterizes our profession
teaching is a caring profession - as such our individual beliefs and values are an integral
part of our everyday work
challenge is for us as individuals to retain a positive sense of teacher identity in the face
of pressures and measures that regulate every aspect of our professional lives

We need to be able to know that we have the capacity to make a difference, and the
autonomy to act as our authentic selves and make decisions to help and honor our
students in the most holistic way