10. Reflection & Professional Growth

10.) Reflection and Professional Growth: This is probably the most important aspect of a great teacher; the ability to continually evaluate one's own teaching habits. Find the strengths and expand on them, and find the weaknesses and correct them.

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek opportunities to grow professionally.

Knowledge Indicators - The competent teacher:

10A. understands that reflection is an integral part of professional growth and improvement of instruction.

10B. understands methods of inquiry that provide for a variety of self-assessment and problem-solving strategies for reflecting on practice.

10C. understands major areas of research on the learning process and resources that are available for professional development.

10D. understands teachers’ attitudes and behaviors that positively or negatively influence behavior of individuals with disabilities.

Performance Indicators - The competent teacher:

10E. uses classroom observation, information about students, pedagogical knowledge, and research as sources for active reflection, evaluation, and revision of practice.

10F. collaborates with other professionals as resources for problem-solving, generating new ideas, sharing experiences, and seeking and giving feedback.

10G. participates in professional dialogue and continuous learning to support his/her own development as a learner and a teacher.

10H. actively seeks and collaboratively shares a variety of instructional resources with colleagues.

10I. assesses his or her own needs for knowledge and skills related to teaching students with disabilities and seeks assistance and resources.

"The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek opportunities to grow professionally."

Even though the teacher is teacher, they should still be learning everyday. The best and most experienced teachers are still students. There is always more that can be learned, especially about yourself and your teaching habits (the good and the bad). A teacher should always be reflecting on what they did and how well it worked (or didn't) and continually attempt to make each new step better than the last.