Reflectiveness

One of the most important elements that teachers must utilize in order to stay at the top of the game is self-reflection.  A teacher who is actively seeking to further his students' education will inevitably better his own teaching skills and reform the qualities that makes him a good teacher.  In order to maintain effective teaching in the classroom, this teacher must stop and look back into the past and analyze his own teaching as well as his students' learning.  He might inquire as to what lessons have been the most effective on his students and make adjustments accordingly to make sure that he is teaching in the best ways and making the most impact on the students.  He might also meet individually with each of the students in order to reflect on both the teaching styles and the student's learning styles.  Meeting with each student offers great advantages to a teacher.  Primarily, it allows a teacher to reflect on their teaching "from the other side of the desk." Using this method, students might be able to offer advice back to the teach exemplifying how he might be able to make the lessons more entertaining or intriguing.  Another benefit to using this method of self-reflection is that the students are able to look back at their own progress throughout the semester and see the areas in which they might need to improve. Without using methods of self-reflection that proactively seek the betterment of one's teaching skills as well as the betterment of students' learning, teaching can often become dull and boring, not to mention lacking in skill.  Reflection upon one's self is very important is the teaching career.