Ideally the student teacher or mentee would be sharing some of their reflections with the mentor or cooperating teacher. Some of the questions in the handbook are designed to be answered before the beginning of the teaching year to help you think about why you are engaged in this process of education. We strongly encourage you to take the time to do this before you begin teaching. We know you will soon be busy and to have begun the reflective process will be beneficial. Some of the questions are designed for use once teaching has begun, while others will be helpful as you think back over the teaching experience as a whole.
All teachers can benefit from becoming reflective teachers.
What is most important for each of us, whether new to the profession, or those of us who have been actively engaged in teaching for many years, is to think about this activity in which we are engaged. We must think about what we wish to accomplish in the classroom, why we have chosen these goals, and how we wish to achieve these goals. Once we have engaged in the active process of teaching, we must regularly reflect on what is happening and has happened in our classrooms. Ideally you will have this handbook several weeks before your teaching assignment begins. It would be best to take the reading and questions in small segments.