Analyzes the construction of reflection in teaching within key documents for presenting or implementing current educational policy in England and Wales. The documents note the potentially fruitful approach to harnessing reflection and reflective practice in the pursuit of given goals. This is in tension with bureaucratic and political imperatives…

This narrative of a technology teacher's socialization into the school culture and use of creative thinking and reflection illustrates the need to heed teachers' voices and critical-analysis skills in order to develop a more relevant and meaningful curriculum. (SK)

Muses on and explores connections between a teacher's personal history as a reader; how she thinks about literature and about reading as a secondary English language arts teacher; and her assumptions about how high school students will, can, or should read. (PA)

Studies how four teachers transformed their philosophies and teaching practices through participation in a reflective research process. Discusses the power of reflection in the teachers' journals; teacher reflections on growth and change; insights into teaching offered by videotaping; talking about teaching and learning with students, parents,…

Presents the perspective of a science teacher educator on evaluation systems for courses and faculty. Critiques the traditional university course evaluation instrument and offers suggestions for augmentation. (DDR)

Examines personal literacy portfolios as a tool to extend teacher literacy and breathe life into the curriculum, offering examples of teachers' knowledge as it forms in their portfolios. Over three years, the reflective summaries that 250 preservice and inservice teachers wrote about their portfolios were examined, providing insight into five…

Describes the use of case-study groups as a structure for active observation of children at the West Side Montessori School in New York City, including daily observation note-taking, bi-weekly meeting of a five-member team, and progress reports on individual children. Discusses the positive impact of the case-study groups on their observation…

Helps show the journey of a teacher finding the path to good teaching and the ways in which she helped her student. Presents insights into teacher learning as well as some useful assessments and instructional techniques used with a child who struggled in reading and writing. (SG)

Provides a description of preservice English-as-a-foreign-language teachers' reflective practice by examining 20 student teachers' observation reports and 20 practice teaching reports over a 6-week period while they were taking a practice teaching course. Topics, types, and development of their reflective practice as shown in the reports were…

Four lines of thought in philosophy that support the use of case studies and narratives to promote reflective teaching at the college level are examined. The four concepts include reflective practice or reflection in action; practical wisdom (contrasted with abstract wisdom); use of concrete cases for rational, practical decision making; and a…

Outlines a method for helping graduate students develop a teaching philosophy statement, describes a teaching philosophy workshop held at the University of Waterloo (Ontario), and suggests tools for graduate students to explore on their own. Presents feedback on the workshop and tools in excerpts from reflective papers written by workshop…

Shares one institution's experiences using professional portfolios to help future teachers become effective practitioners and transition from school to work, describing the portfolio development process and exit presentations. Feedback from student questionnaires indicated that students overwhelmingly considered the invested time worthwhile, saw…

Investigated the nature of professional interactions of two teams of middle school mathematics teachers involved in a schoolwide professional development project centered around increasing teachers' collegial discourse in order to improve practice. Findings indicated that the collegial interactions had little impact on one team but drastically…

Describes four key elements typically seen in schools that show continuous improvement in student results. Such schools' cultures are permeated by a shared focus on student learning, a strong culture of reflective practice, a collaborative environment where teachers see colleagues and parents as important partners, and an ever increasing…

Presents a position statement from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) that expresses a vision for the reform of science teaching and learning. Comments on inquiry-based instruction, reflective teaching, assessment practices, subject matter, equity in science programs, and the professional development of science teachers. (DDR)