Teacher Self(ie)-Reflection
I vividly remember the thumping of my heart as I hit record in my ninth year in the classroom. I was recording myself to reflect on my own teaching: no one else would see the video, and no one else knew I was recording. And I was still so nervous!
Now after nearly a decade of coaching using recorded observations, I’ve recorded myself dozens of times and watched hundreds of recorded classes and coaching meetings. I still get a ping of anxiety when I record myself, but I am awed by the power of watching yourself and taking the time to reflect to help us grow.
I highly recommended the process of reflecting on a teacher video selfie!
Recording yourself teach is helpful to identify ways you’d like to grow, if your intentions in the classroom are being met, and possibilities for reaching students you are struggling to connect with.
It’s a simple process, but it’s surprising how much comes up once you see your class from a different angle.
Plus, reflecting on a recording of your classroom in action is one of the most individualized forms of professional development you’ll find. In one study that included more than 3,000 teachers, the researchers reflected that “Although we didn’t study the effectiveness of feedback, many of the teachers who participated in the MET project video study told us that seeing themselves teach was one of their most valuable professional development experiences.”
Below, you can download the template I use with teachers to help guide their self-reflection process. You can use this individually (where no one even knows you are recording like I did!) or with a team.
As you watch your recording, remember to focus not only on what you are saying and doing (or not saying or not doing), but also on what your students are saying and doing. In order to do this, you’ll need to make sure the camera is positioned in a way as to capture students as well, such as in the back or side of the room, or using a device like a Swivl.
The Teacher Self-Reflection Template
BEFORE: Set your intentions
By setting the intention of what you are looking for in your video selfie, you provide yourself with a focus and a much greater chance that this process will be effective for helping you grow. There are hundreds of small things going on in a classroom at any given moment, so cutting out distractions and giving yourself a clear purpose is helpful.
AFTER: Self-reflection questions
The self-reflection questions are broken down into these categories:
Glow area: What was really great that’s worth doing more often?
Notice and wonder: This makes space for more general reflections, especially those (seemingly) random thoughts or questions that come up while you observe. See where these thoughts lead you!
Grow area: If possible, try to stick to just one main thing you’d like to change from this lesson. Don’t beat yourself up, and don’t give yourself a laundry list of things to do. By focusing on one thing, you’ll make actually changing much more likely.
Investigate: Do some research or pick your colleagues' brains for ways to address the challenge in your grow area.
Process: Reflect on how the process of reflecting on a recorded lesson went for you.
You could consider adding a question related to particular initiatives at your school, or looking at equity in your classroom.
It’s worth mentioning that (most) everyone hates how they sound or look on camera. Just accept it, don’t get distracted, and focus on your teaching instead!
A note for coaches: This same document can be used to reflect on a recorded coaching meeting between you and a teacher instead of a classroom observation.
Your heart might feel like it’s beating out of your chest when you hit record, but I hope you find this process helpful for your growth as an educator!
Download the teacher self-reflection template below. Reach out to me if you’d like a Google Doc version of the form to be able to modify it or complete it electronically.