Promoting Reflective Thinking in Teachers: 50 Action Strategies

About the Book

Praise for Second Edition:
"This book is very thorough in presenting the purpose and accompanying strategies for instilling reflective practices in educators. I believe the reflective thoughts and questions posed throughout are beneficial for teachers."
-Karen Harvey, Induction Program Coordinator
Santa Clarita Valley Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA)

Praise for First Edition:
"Offers practitioners and preservice teachers the opportunity to individualize their professional development on the use of reflective thinking to best meet their needs."
-Judy Nixon, Teacher Education
Fort Hays State University

Create meaningful, fulfilling, and successful professional development training for your teachers!

This expanded version of the original bestseller integrates the latest research and technology with tried-and-true methods for boosting practitioners′ reflective thinking skills. The tasks and tools provided have been specifically designed for facilitators of pre-service and inservice teacher education, training, and development-giving them a timesaving blueprint on how to shape their adult learners into analytical and critical thinkers.

Attuned to the challenges surrounding teacher training, this easy-to-use guide outlines straightforward activities and concrete assessments that serve as constructive benchmarks for facilitators and teachers alike. It delivers 50 practical strategies for helping educators move through the levels of reflective thinking-from teacher roles, styles, attributes, and observations through such far-reaching concerns as the moral and ethical considerations of teaching.

New to this second edition are strategies to:

• Strengthen electronic portfolios with reflective writing
• Optimize video as a self-assessment tool
• Access relevant resources on the Internet
• Tap into online peer mentoring
• Encourage reflection through learning communities

These field-tested methods will empower teachers with the knowledge, motivation, and self-assurance to become reflective educators, giving them the key to a more meaningful, fulfilling, and successful career, teaching all of our children to succeed.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors Chapter 1: Becoming a Reflective Teacher Modes of Reflective Thinking The Process Approach Techniques for Facilitating Reflective Activities Brainstorming Consensus Building Buzz Groups Role-Playing Questioning Activities for Introducing Reflective Thinking to Practitioners Task 1: Finding a Definition Task 2: The Reflective Thinking Process Task 3: Gardening Puzzle Task 4: Roll On Task 5: Designing a Classroom Task 6: Logic Lure Preparing a Plan of Action for Enhancing Reflective Thinking Chapter 2: Assessing Reflective Thinking Task 7: Atribute Clarification Task 8: Card Sort: Reflective Thinking Attributes Chapter 3: Practicing Observational Learning The Observation Process Reflective Activities Task 9: Categorization of Observations Task 10: Compliance With Classroom Rules Task 11: Observing Effective Questioning Task 12: Observing Classroom Management Styles Task 13: Belief Systems: Their Role in Observational Learning Task 14: Interpreting Change Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Chapter 4: Writing Reflective Journals The Use of Reflective Journals Reflective Activities Task 15: Task Formatting a Journal Entry Task 16: Journaling the Reflective Thinking Process Task 17: A Comparison of the Use of Journaling to an Observational Checklist Task 18: A Comparison of Observations With the Use of a Journaling Format to Observations Without the Use of a Journaling Format Task 19: Open-Ended Journaling Task 20: Rights and Responsibilities Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Chapter 5: Using Practicum Strategies The Microteaching Process Reflective Teaching Reflective Activities Task 21: The Anxiety Task Task 22: Lines of Symmetry Task Task 23: Effective Teaching Rubric Task 24: Effective Teaching to Peers Task 25: Inclusion: Teaching Effectiveness Task 26: Effective Teaching of Peers Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Chapter 6: Narrative Reflection Autobiographical Sketches Case Studies Study Circles Reflective Activities Task 27: Using Case Study for Problem Resolution Task 28: Using Autobiographical Sketches to Evaluate Beliefs Regarding Teacher Roles Task 29: Writing a Case Study for Problem Resolution Task 30: The Three Pigs, the Wolf, and Effective Teaching Task 31: Chew and Chat Task 32: Using Autobiographical Sketches to Evaluate Beliefs Regarding Classroom Management Styles Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Chapter 7: Creating Mental Models The Process of Using Metaphors for Reflective Thinking The Process of Using Repertory Grids Reflective Activities Task 33: Using Metaphors to Explore Teacher Roles Task 34: Using Repertory Grids to Explore Instructional Practices Task 35: Using Metaphors to Explore Classroom Management Styles Task 36: Using Repertory Grids to Explore Practitioner Traits Task 37: Using Metaphors to Explore Perceptions of School Climate Task 38: Using REpertory Grids to Explore Classroom Climate Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Chapter 8: Promoting Reflective Thinking Through Action Research Reflective Activities Task 39: Preparing for Action Research: Selecting a Question Task 40: Research for Self-Improvement Task 41: Collaborative Action Research Task 42: Textbook Analysis Task 43: Action Research: Ethical, Moral, or Sociopolitical Issues Task 44: Action Research: Parent and Community Involvement Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth References Chapter 9: Technology as a Tool for Building Learning Communitites Study Groups Portfolio Development Reflective Activities Task 45: Video as an Observational Tool Task 46: Reflecting on the Value of Internet Resources Task 47: Learning Communities to Promote Reflection Task 48: Linking Electronic Portfolios to Reflective Writing Task 49: Onlne Peer Mentoring Task 50: Technology to Support the Learning Community Reflective Questions Action Assignments Suggestions for Success Journaling Reflective Growth Preface

About the Author :
Germaine L. Taggart is Associate Professor in the College of Education at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. She has taught students from kinder­garten through Grade 12 in public schools in Kansas. She received her BS and MS degrees in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University, her EdS in Educational Administration from Fort Hays State University, and her EdD in Educational Administration from Kansas State University. She teaches mathematics and science methods courses, has helped develop and continues to work with TEAM: Links for Learning (a field-based preservice program), and provides staff development on a consultant basis for school districts in western Kansas. Dr. Taggart is married to R. Bruce Taggart. They have two children, Travis and Kelsey, and one granddaughter, MacKenzie, and they reside in Hays, Kansas. Alfred P. Wilson is Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration at Kansas State University. He has served as a public school teacher and administrator and as a university faculty member and administrator in the states of Nevada, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, Idaho, and Kansas. He received his doctorate from Utah State University in 1969. He is the author or coauthor of more than 25 books and monographs and 100 articles and research papers. He has been consultant to more than 200 school districts in 42 states, 20 state departments and regional service centers for education, 15 community colleges and universities, and a broad variety of organizations. Dr. Wilson has been an active member and leader in many organizations, including the American Research Association, Phi Delta Kappa, the American Association of School Administrators, and the American Management Association.

Review :
“This book is very thorough in presenting the purpose and accompanying strategies for instilling reflective practices in educators. I believe the reflective thoughts and questions posed throughout are beneficial for teachers."