Look Inside and Reflect

08/24/2016

True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.
Alexander von Humboldt, Environmentalist and Geographer, 1769-1859

In her article, "Looking Inside: Helping Teachers Assess Their Beliefs and Values" in the Exchange Press book Developing People, part of the Art of Leadership series, Paula Jorde Bloom offers an assessment tool to help teachers reflect on their attitudes and beliefs about children, parents and their own role in the classroom. Paula suggests that program directors benefit when they "better understand the undergirding values and beliefs that drive the teaching practices that they observe."

Program leaders can use this information in a variety of ways including:

As part of your interviewing and hiring process
To communicate about shared beliefs and the philosophy of your program
To engage staff in reflective listening and strengthen communication
To help teachers gain insight into their everyday actions in the classroom

"Directors must help teachers become reflective practitioners," she adds. "And reflection begins with an examination of one’s own belief system."

Contributed by Tina Reeble

T.Bagby - Spend lesss time gathering information and more time teaching.

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