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Running head: REFLECTION HD 450 REFLECTIVE TEACHING

Reflection HD 450 Reflective Teaching


Pauline Abu-Tayeh
Luis Giraldo
Pacific Oaks College

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Reflective Teaching
My reflective thinking as an educator has me wondering if I am effectively creating a
curriculum that supports childrens learning and play. I took a good look at how I needed to
improve in my techniques. This class guided me to reflect on how I can improve myself as a
teacher in a preschool classroom. First, we watched a YouTube video on Ernest Morrell. The
video was called Powerful Teaching, Powerful Schools, Engaging Youth. It discussed how a
teacher must always reinvent him/herself in order to motivate and cultivate students (Morrell,
2015). This class has inspired me to take a look at myself daily and develop critical thinking
skills from the observations of the students in my class. I am thinking about how I will use their
individual goals in order to come up with activities that correspond to these goals. I have
realized that a reflective teacher thinks about how he/she can change himself/herself and/or the
environment instead of trying to change others, or view the child as lacking somehow.
In one assignment, we had to reflect upon how to overcome obstacles and create fresh
ideas in our work environment. This journal made me realize that I must focus on one child at a
time and develop their individual goals in order to work with each childs learning style. This
has affected the way I think because I only looked at my strengths and never my weaknesses. I
examined my bias and continue to do so every day. It surprised me to find out that I have many
biases concerning diversity. It is important for me to think before I act. I have gained insight
into my challenges and can therefore move forward to create alternative choices.
We also discussed being inspired by a powerful teaching role model. I shared many
qualities I appreciate in a teacher whose name is Pat. Our role model project included two-parts.
The first part described how a great teacher can influence your teaching experience. The second
part was to write a letter to our role model and read it out loud to our cohort peers. I realized that

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there were so many things I learned from Pat. One of the main things that I learned from her was
how to diffuse conflicts quickly. Her calming presence along with her statement to parents,
What can I do to make this situation better? was so effective. This produces a positive
environment. I have also learned from her the ability to reflectively listen by making eye contact
and repeating back sentences. I am a strong teacher because of her. The most important legacy
that she leaves with me is trust and encouragement. Because of her, I can always be true to
myself and to others in my professional and personal life. I asked Pat what is her key to success.
She answered that she is always open to constructive feedback. She benefits from what others
say to her. Pat has taught me to accept responsibility for my actions and not to put blame on
anyone else. Today, Pat is an administrator. She has inspired me to improve myself as a teacher
continuously and consistently. I did not realize until I did this assignment how this one person
contributed to my teaching and learning style.
The cohort learned a great deal from each other as we read a text in groups of 4 and
reflected on the readings from Puzzling Moments, Teachable Moments (Ballenger, 2009).
Ballenger states when opportunities are given by teachers then children can become powerful
thinkers. As we presented our reflection in groups to one another, we shared some of the
activities that build on curriculum. For example, school age students had an interest for
earthquakes and their curriculum took them to volcanoes. We discussed how the book showed us
how to follow through with observing students and then writing down what we had seen or
heard. I learned from my cohort peers that we should think about what activities a teacher can
use based on the childrens language and experiences. Adding to these contributions, Ballenger
advises educators to look for solutions, challenge through predictions, and revise activities.

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For this course I also observed a teacher and a child. I had the opportunity to observe and
document what I had seen in his classroom. I saw how a teacher was able to think quickly when
a child started to run around the room. She redirected his behavior in his environment. This
project also asked that this observation connect to a theorist. I connected my observation to Urie
Bronfenbrenner. These assignments made me realize that observations are a large part of
formulating individual goals for each child. I have learned that observations should not be
judged by what you feel but by what you see. Then, I was able to connect my observation to
Urie Bronfenbrenner. His theory depicted the strengths and challenges in a childs environment
and how it connected to his/her community (Sincero, 2012). Bronfenbrenners theory is a
guideline in order to understand why children behave differently in front of family versus school
(Sincero, 2012). Overall, I felt that this observation was helpful to me. I am thinking more
reflectively in how I can change the environment, or my approach, not the child. Teacher
sensitivity is important in order to understand what a child is doing and how he/she feels.
I feel empowered to use reflective teaching every day that I am in the classroom. I have
learned that I should strive to be a better teacher to children in their educational environments. I
found that I can individualize children more effectively through positive note taking. I believe
that taking care of yourself first strengthens your ability to connect with children and their
families. In this course, I will take with me the knowledge that it is I who changes my
environment. I take care of me first so that I can take care of others.

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References
Ballenger, C. (2009). Puzzling moments, teachable moments. New York: Teachers College.
Morrell, E. (2015). Powerful teaching, powerful schools, engaging youth [video]. US: YTube.
Sincero, S. (2012). Ecological systems theory. Retrieved from http://explorable.com/ecological

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