Reflection can be defined as thinking deeply about something that may not have been given much thought too.  Reflection is  observing  and thinking about our experiences, actions, feelings, and responses. This can then be interpreted or analysed in order to learn from them. Questions that can be asked during the reflection process could be: ‘What I did? How I did this? and What did I learn from doing so?’

 

This skill is regarded highly important for teachers to develop, as reflective practice within teaching is one of the most important foundations in ‘personal professional development and improvement’. It supports teachers to gather,  record, and evaluate everything that takes place in their lessons. Teachers can move on from experiencing to understanding. Without this skill teachers are unable to question themselves about the meaning behind their experiences which can prevent them from making changes to progress further.  As a teacher self-awareness is crucial.

 

Reflection involves exploring and critically examining our ideas, values, experiences and actions for the purpose of personal learning and development. It allows individuals to see how to move forward and improve their abilities, encouraging a culture of continuous learning. Reflection is a fundamental part of teaching and learning. It is a vital skill for teachers as it allows them to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and therefore adapt learning to meet the needs of all pupils. This process enables teachers to reflect on their  practices to see what works best for their students and what areas can be developed in order to maximise student progress and outcomes.

Reflective practice is a skill that is often encouraged by professionals in the field of teaching. This allows teachers to recall and reflect on their previous experiences, which facilitates professionals to become more self-aware of their own actions. By undertaking reflective practice, a teacher may be able to look back and identify what strengths were demonstrated within the lesson, but also recognise the parts that were less successful. If they were to perform the same lesson again in the future, they will be able to further adapt the strategies and teaching methods, taking into consideration the critical evaluation that they have gained through their previous reflection. Over time, this will facilitate towards the professional growth of teachers, allowing them to become more confident and knowledgeable in the work that they do in the classroom.