Journal Entry 1

I always thought that to reflect, I needed to sit down with a pen and paper, clear my mind, and write about how things went and what I could change for next time. I’ve tried countless times to journal and reflect on my day, but many times I have failed, and that journal gets tucked away, never to be touched again. Until one day, when I was driving home from work and going over a not-so-great situation that happened earlier, it hit me: I reflect every single day when I drive home. Not only do I reflect then, but I also think about my day when I am out in nature walking my dogs or watching my daughter drive up and down the trails on her dirt bike. I self-reflect way more than I ever realized.

When I reflect, I find I always try to process the situation by evaluating what happened. If the whole day went smoothly, which rarely happens, I still run a play-by-play through my head of areas where I really excelled and where my students and I really shined. Even after those tough days when I feel like I failed, I still try to highlight areas I excelled in and areas where I am proud of myself for standing strong. The harder the day, the more I learn about myself and grow into a better educator.

The articles I read discussed how important it is as a leader to self-reflect and learn. Without even knowing it, I do this all the time. I am always looking inward and constantly trying to learn who I am and how I can be the best leader for my little troops. I will continue to self-reflect throughout my career as a teacher, not only for myself but also for my team and my class.

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/reflecting-yourself-leader-elena-aguilar