For Educators: Critical Reflection in a Time of Light & Shadow
The winter months and solstice are always a natural time to turn inward and reflect on the year of accomplishments and projects completed, as well as those yet to come.
This year, as the sunlight continues to wane from the sky and our nights get longer, we invite you to protect – not find – critical reflection time for both yourself and for your teams.
As important as the “doing” is for educational leaders, so too is critical reflection.
Making time to consider all of the impacts and evidence of the doing is oftentimes just as important as the acts of service themselves. And just like the light that changes and the shadows that grow longer this time of year, take cues from the natural world around us and reflect with your data using the “light” and the “dark” as well.
Critical reflection questions to consider might be:
Celebration of Light –
Remembrances of Import
What are the brightest elements of our data and accomplishments we want/need to celebrate?
How and in what ways was this data brought to bear (harvested)?
Who do we have to thank for these bright spots and what are their stories of discovery?
Honoring the Shadows –
Considerations of Concern
What hidden stories still reside in our data?
Whose data is missing from our conversations/considerations?
Whose voice/s still need to be included in the year to come?
What details in our designs need more attention/more spotlighting?
What are our next steps in making this happen in the coming year?
Interested in Diving Deep
i3 Institute offers a variety of training opportunities to help you level up and get the most out of your data.
Working in community and collaboration
Be it in our personal lives or professional working in collaboration with others has the power to focus our attention on the good and the strong.
Be sure to also use this important time of the year to search out the tender truths that might be hiding in the shadows. Paying close attention to all aspects of our efforts - including the hidden data - means that as the Winter light begins to grow again, you and your teams have spent time thinking critically about and preparing for the work that still lies ahead.
Resources:
Critical Reflection https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ915885.pdf
Collaborative Data Discussions: https://firstschool.fpg.unc.edu/using-data-create-culture-collaborative-inquiry.html
Design Thinking in Early Education: https://www.redleafpress.org/Design-in-Mind-A-Framework-for-Sparking-Ideas-Collaborations-and-Innovation-in-Early-Education-P2587.aspx
About the Author:
Michelle Grant-Groves is the executive director and founder of the i3 Institute and Center of Gravity early education school. In her leadership role at the Center of Gravity, she guides teaching teams to reflect on their accomplishments and opportunities ahead. Read Bio