Why do I need to become a reflective practitioner?

Reflective practice is an active, dynamic action-based and ethical set of skills, placed
in real time and dealing with real, complex and difficult situations. (Moon, 1999). I
have recently discovered that its actually one of the most valuable and worthwhile
things a person can do. I often see many of my friends and acquaintances share their
own reflective blogs on social media, and I have constantly doubted how my own
reflective writing would compare. Having had very limited experience and motivation
I found it difficult to envisage myself participating in reflective practice. However, I
am very excited to dive into the benefits I have found on my journey through
reflective practice.

Reflective practice gives you more time to [focus] on the things that really matter.
(Skills you need, 2017). As I have researched and adapted this new concept of
learning into my own educational journey, I have found that through this time
effective process, my mind has been focused and that there is greater clarity to my
thought.

My limited experience in reflective practice has led me to question how I can use this
skill to benefit myself and other educators. As I have researched and experimented
with my blog writing, I discovered the following 6 steps to become a Master
Teacher through reflective practice.
1. Understand your reason for teaching
2. Cultivate Ethical Behaviour in your students and yourself
3. Pool both patience and perseverance
4. Design a curriculum that works
5. Perfect Instructional Practices and Assessment Skills
6. Connect positively to the whole-school culture
(Regan, 2012)
As a future educator I believe I will surely benefit from reflective practice. These 6
Steps to become a Master Teacher are just a few fantastic examples of how reflective
practice can really benefit current and future educators. I have learnt that it will help
me to save time, and to ensure I am doing the best job I can possibly do.

Image Source
Sheryl Smolkin (2017). To blog or not to blog? Retirement Redux. Retrieved from
http://www.retirementredux.com/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/

References
Moon, J. (1999). Reflection in Learning and Professional Development: Theory and
Practice . London: Kogan Page.
Regan, M. (2012, 01 10). Six Steps to Master Teaching: Becoming a Reflective
Practitioner . Retrieved 09 05, 2017, from Edutopia:
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/master-teaching-margaret-regan
Skills you need. (2017). Reflective Practice . Retrieved 09 04, 2017, from Skills you
need : https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/reflective-practice.html