Reflection is at the Heart of Practice

I teach 4 year-old Kindergarten, and so I teach two 1/2 day classes each day.  By reflecting over lunch time, I can rethink my daily lessons and events to make them immediately better with the next class.  I also reflect on an overall basis for activities and events I want to do again in the future.  As for my teaching style, I evaluate my self numerous times each day.  I always want to try and understand why something has happened. Usually it happens when I'm trying to figure out why I got such results from a lesson (good or bad).  I believe that reflection is a never ending cycle that will allow me to pursue becoming a master teacher

Sometimes my reflections are not accurate!  I realize this, and keep that in mind while I am reflecting.  Time is a huge factor in being able to reflect properly.  Not only does reflection take time, but it takes even more time if you want to do something about what you realize in your reflections.  I hate the feeling that I'm wasting my time reflecting and rethinking every little choice.  At times, my energy level and patience levels get in the way of my reflections.  Realistic strategies and a lack of brainstorming ideas is another struggle I face when trying to reflect with success.   

To get by these barriers I need to learn to be ok with an "alright lesson".  Not every child is going to learn the same way, so it doesn't matter if the lesson works with one class and not the other.  My time could be managed more effectively by quit worrying about what I can't control.  I think more experience with different situations and learning how to be more efficient in my reflections would also help me to reflect with success.