What is Reflective Practice?

We offer an online workshop titled Profession Growth through Reflective Practice. In this three-hour workshop, we practice the art of reflective practice through three specific activities, journaling, effective communication, and critical incident sharing. 

Reflective practice is a stance of being open about our thinking. The act of thinking about our thinking (metacognition) is not new. Often during the day, we reflect on something we did or said. Reflection happens at work, at home, and in our daily lives. Often in the middle of the night, we reflect through little voices in our heads about what went right and wrong and what we would have done differently.

Reflective practice is hard-wired into our thinking. However, the practice of mining our thinking is not. Reflective practice is a deliberate act. To reflect individually, you need a journal or other note-taking device. Reflecting in groups requires group agreements around the values of sensitivity to others, confidentiality, and creating a safe place to work. These three items are necessary so individuals can be genuine about their experiences and build trust.

What is the role of reflective practice in our lives?

When we reflect on our thinking deliberately, we accept that we will notice our strengths and weaknesses. A reflective practice supports slowing down to create space and spend some time with our thoughts. I prefer pen and paper for my reflective practice sessions. Computers generate a sense of urgency that detracts from the act of slowing down. Using a journal and pen, I can connect my creative side (doodling, creating arrows, boxes, think bubbles, free-writing, and more) with my logical brain (list-making, outlines, and note-taking). Writing on paper connects the two halves of our brain and crosses the central median (between the right and left brain). Writing on paper opens new ideas in a way that a computer, tablet, or phone cannot.

How does reflective practice enhance our work with children and families? 

When we engage in reflective practice, we discover new connections between children and their work. We also detect patterns and create further questions about children’s thinking. Reflective practice allows us, as early childhood educators, to come alongside children as co-learners in the classroom and supports our connection with colleagues. Reflective practice opens space to make visible to parents the depth and breadth of their child’s learning and the endless capabilities of children.

Research on reflective practice tells us that reflecting on who we are as educators and how we choose to be intentional in our actions is the foundation of quality early childhood programs. Without deep reflective practice, we are adrift in our classroom.

Reflective practice is the foundation of critical thinking. Thinking profoundly and multi-faceted about our classroom work is the foundation of who we are as early childhood educators.

At its heart, reflective practice helps us shift from feelings of scarcity, the act of not having enough or being enough, to one of abundance, seeing the richness and depth of early childhood education. Cultivating an abundance mentality supports the work of early childhood educators. It helps us dwell on the possibility of the classroom and our program. Reflective practice moves us from our emotional response to classroom experiences to a holistic take on what is happening in our learning community.

What will you do today to engage in reflective practice?