Reflection is an absolutely crucial practice for educators to implement daily. This applies not only to the professional aspects of teaching but also to the personal aspects of the educator themselves. 

 

Professionally reflection allows educators to weigh in about the pros and cons of any particular school day, lesson, interaction, implementation of strategies, and educational practices. This is effective because it allows one to see how effective the existing learning experience is to the students in both qualitative and quantitative manners. This provides many opportunities for growth and improvement in practicing education that will lead to more beneficial experiences for students. 

 

Personally, it is important to reflect about the world and reality we live in. This prevents educators from forming false assumptions about students and what are morally and intellectually correct practices as an educator. It is also equally important to reflect in an effort to maintain a state of good mental health. Teaching can serve as an emotionally and physically exhausting experience. This is why it is particularly useful to reflect on a personal level to ensure that you as an educator are in the most positive state of mind that is attainable. The healthier more positive state the teacher exists in (mentally and intellectually), the more positive of an impact he/she will have the students throughout the school year. 

 

My goal as your science teacher is going to be to help you develop and in depth understanding of the science concepts that I will be teaching you. I hope you will develop an understanding that goes beyond simply memorizing information in order to do well on any given test. I hope to do this by having all of you be active participants in class discussions and hands-on activities. I will be incorporating as many hands-on activities as I can in order to help you learn and understand the various science concepts that are part of the curriculum. I also hope to help you make the connection between what we are learning in the classroom and applications in the real word. I hope to do so by posing questions and discussion topics that really get you thinking. It is my goal that when the class is over, you will walk away with a strong knowledge base of the science curriculum and an in-depth understanding of what you have learned.