Reflective Teacher Entrance Slip

This article definitely struck a chord when the authors brought up the idea of “routine action.” This doesn’t only apply to teaching, since I feel like there were definitely points in my life when I just didn’t feel fulfilled. I would do the same routine everyday, and lose a sense of purpose, so I very much resonated with the article when they addressed that non reflective teachers who perform routine action eventually forget the purposes of their work. The idea of “reflective action” and being a reflective teacher is still very relevant not just for teachers, but for living a fulfilling life in general. As a teacher candidate, I enjoy the idea of learning about teaching and continuously improving the way I teach through reflection and open-mindedness. I think that learning doesn’t stop when I become a teacher, I actually end up learning more and more. And the first step is to learn more about myself and the type of teacher I want to be, since the article also mentioned that me as a teacher will always be changing. It’s also interesting how the article mentioned reflection on the administrative side of teaching, since many teachers are said to be just follow along the school systems and not bothering to reflect on their own teaching. It is saddening to see the story of Mary Smith, where she refused to teach a class of students just because they are below the standardized grade level. I absolutely don’t want to be a teacher like that, so it is an eye-opening moment that encourages me to be more reflective. The most outdated information I can think of is the integration of modern technology in the classroom and in our daily routine. I believe the being reflective may have been harder now that technology and social media have been taking all the free time we have. Being bored is the primary way for me and many others to reflect on ourselves, but the addition of technology feels like it’s adding more unnecessary stimulation to an already fast-paced work environment. However, being connected to more educators around the world bring more good than harm I am able to read their stories from around the globe instead of just from my local educators. Overall though, I believe that technology does make the reflective teachers shine through more shared experiences and a more welcoming atmosphere for new teacher candidates like us.

It’s quite insightful to read about the three attitudes of reflective action, and motivates me to push myself to be a better teacher. I am looking forward to be humbled by my students and mentors, as I have so much more to learn despite being an educator for many years. I am curious to see how my responsibilities of a teacher will play out, since I already feel so different from the math teachers I had in my high school. And I am happy to reflect on myself to continuously improve wholeheartedly, since I chose this career to fulfill what I think is right for the future. This article is empowering, as it touches upon such a fundamental skill that I want to improve upon: self-reflection.