From Inspection to Reflection
When was the last time your work was reflected upon with another professional in your field? Your manager’s work? Are you receiving feedback which will allow you to grow? How often? Do you celebrate your successes? What are you learning? What evidence do you have of this learning? Who has benefited from your learning? Just some questions to think about as we take a look at an inspection process I recently participated in. Reports are then publicly shared with parents and the wider community. Of course I do not care for the word inspection because it sounds intrusive and like an interrogation.
Early in my education career I remember reading a quote which said “teach each day as though you were being observed.” Ever since I read that quote I have sought to live it. Visitors, local and national education agencies, parents, administrators, central offices, and colleagues have always been open to come into my classroom to see what types of tasks my learners and I engage in daily. I have nothing to hide and am always willing to learn about my practice from the vantage point of others. But that is not always the case in education. Some may feel this is crossing the line and see their classroom and teaching as private. The fact is we all need to be reflective – whether it is a process we embark upon personally or choose to have someone else engage in this process with us.
Reflections allow us to celebrate where we are professionally and plan our next steps in areas we need to develop. So where are you…already reflective in your practice or willing to reflect and/or collaborate with a colleague?
