...Evaluating Reflective Practice

Assuming you understand that reflective practice can support professional development, how do you actually go about it?  And how do you know that you are going about it correctly?  

What is 'good' or 'effective' reflection?

This post presents a framework of prompts to assist the reflective practitioner in evaluating and developing the way he or she reflects.  Using this matrix of questions may help you to develop appropriately critical reflection. This would facilitate broader perspective, deeper insight into situations, and more reliable implications for potential future action.

...Health, Support & Wellbeing

As I write this post the UK enters a third round of restrictions imposed to help control the spread of the Covid-19 virus across the country.  Since most schools do not actually shut during lockdown (despite unhelpful reports to the contrary) teachers continue to provide teaching and learning opportunities, pastoral care, and even food to their pupils.  Student teachers, too, are considered to be key workers in terms of Covid-19 restrictions. Teacher training therefore continues, to help ensure the teaching workforce is maintained...

This post draws together a range of online avenues of help and support, with school staff in mind. Please engage, share and support.

...Personal Statements

 

Applying for an NQT Post 
Writing a Personal Statement

A personal statement is usually requested to support an application for a teaching position. The statement serves to help potential employers shortlist candidates for interview.  It should summarise key skills and interests, set out strengths and experience, and demonstrate sound writing in standard English.

This brief article sets out some tips and principles to guide you to write a good statement, which is accurate, clear and economical. It includes a suggested structure - in the form of a writing frame - to support you with the process.

...Semicolons

This very brief post (requested by students) aims to exemplify conventions for the use of semicolons in standard written English, in just three simple stages.

...Literacy Websites

This is a collection of English and literacy online resources.  It is compiled for teachers with a mild focus on the primary age phases and on early reading and language development.

Click HERE to access the collections, and use Ctrl+F or the 'Search...' box in the sidebar to locate relevant resources.

(To report outdated links and incorrect categories, or to suggest new content, please 'Contact me...')

...Your Education Research Project

This brief post is based on support provided for trainee teachers at UEL, to help them complete a research project assignment.  It lists a range of self-support approaches to help students write and edit education research reports.  Some of the following tips would apply whatever the discipline being studied.

...'To Do' Lists

To do lists don't work. I certainly don't recall ever getting everything on a to do list actually done.  This is because they don't help us to be more productive, or more efficient in what we do and when we do it.  Instead they serve to stoke anxiety levels by reminding us of how many things we haven't done.  In fact, I'm going to refer to them as haven't done lists from now on.

But they're not what this post it about.  Several years ago I stopped using to do lists for good, in favour of a new way of organising my time, which was as quick, and more effective.  And here it is...

...Reflective Practice - So What?

This post briefly reviews what reflective practice is, before explaining a relatively simple model which can be used to engage in professional reflection - Borton's Developmental Framework. 

In a nutshell, reflection is a learning tool.  It can help us to learn from our mistakes and to find solutions to problems. With a little more critical thinking thrown in, reflection can enable professionals to better understand their work, build on positives or identify areas for development and, therefore, improve their effectiveness.