Introduces a special section in this journal dealing with reflective classroom culture as a part of the portfolio process. Discusses the social nature of reflection, and the benefits of reflection (self-evaluation) for students and for teachers. (SR)

Argues that two theoretical components of a model known as the Conceptual Change Model (CCM) are beneficial constructs for teachers to use when helping students negotiate scientific discourse. Contains 34 references. (DDR)

An adventure educator describes his process of "waking up" to awareness of the role of ethics in professional practice. Four critical incidents in this process involved the obligation to protect clients from undue harm, responsibility to continually assess one's professional competence, duty to share information with peers, and…

Examines some reasons for the gap between teacher education and school practices, a potential conflict between teacher educator's views and pre-service teacher's own views of their learning, and negligence in examining the discourses within which educational practices are constituted. (Contains 37 references.) (Author/ASK)

Two beginning nurse educators used reflective practice to shape ideas about clinical teaching. Techniques such as journal writing, audiotaped debriefing, and a "critical friend" helped support and inform their reflection and improve teaching and learning. (SK)

Discusses the ineffectiveness of the lecture method when used with heterogeneous populations. Describes the development of a course designed to be responsive to the way students learn and how they are motivated to learn. (DDR)

Describes the evolution of an introductory astronomy course from fact driven to concept driven. Presents a rationale for a course designed to engage students in considering answers to the questions "what are we?" and "how do we know what we know?" (DDR)

Explores how case methods may be used to foster habits of praxis--that is, critical, reflective practices that enable beginning teachers to adapt to the many diverse contexts they will encounter in the field. Results suggest that student teachers: (1) understood an associated analytical framework; (2) effectively analyzed curriculum and pedagogy;…

Considers whether African-American children can be educated in a system that ignores their cultural capital. Examines the effects of educational history and tradition, the importance of teacher reflection on attitudes and practices, and the need to culturally responsive rather than color blind. (Contains 43 references.) (SK)

Expands the reflective process into the author's unique learning community to intimately involve parents in their child's learning and academic development. Explores new ways to gather information about her students by inviting parents to become members of her reflective learning community. Describes the benefits and challenges of having parents…

Reflects on the articles in this themed issue on reflective practice. Notes that these teacher/authors have been influenced by prior learning, past experience, feelings, attitudes, values, the school constraints on the learning environment, and their own assumptions about teaching. Describes how teachers have formed a learning community to…

Reports on a such teacher development group in Korea that sought to promote reflective practice. Specific focus is on the role of cooperative talk used during group meetings to help four English-as-a-Foreign-Language teachers reflect on their professional practice. Outcomes of the study discussed include the use of silence and choice of topic, the…

Considers if reflection on practice would be effective as ongoing training of tutors. Discusses the designing of a series of guided reflection exercises and examines the impact. Finds that it is difficult to use guided reflection to foster more reflective thinking by tutors and to change basic tutoring approaches. (SG)

At one Illinois elementary school, student portfolios have been a powerful vehicle for understanding what students know and understand about standards. Before developing a portfolio, educators should listen to children as they evaluate others' accomplishments and encourage conversations and reflections that affirm students' sense of competence.…

A case of Jill, an elementary school teacher who takes a reflection practitioner stance on her teaching is described. Three different social practices used by Jill to help her struggling third-grade students learn to write and some of the lasting impressions based on the whole experience are highlighted.