1. Final Self-Reflection
At the beginning of this process I was unsure of what to expect because I
wanted more concrete answers right away. However during this process I have
gained a new awareness or a renewed awareness that our answers to questions will
come as we gain the experiences. I sometimes think I am programed this way
because I am an elementary teacher and I often teach by model, model, model so my
students have concrete examples. However, this experience has helped me to
remember that sometimes, it takes our own unique experiences to guide our
direction, not someone else’s. This ultimately makes me think about what we read
in the article “Cognitive Coaching: A Strategy For Reflective Teaching.” In the article
the authors state that, “We believe teaching cannot be reduced to a formula or a
recipe.” Their belief made me think about the statement that one-size fits all and
how even the words them selves are a paradox. We are all different and our
experiences are all different, and when we all understand and accept that, when I
accept that, internalize that, then that is when I am doing my best teaching and
collaborating. I am not going to change someone or “fix” them, but I can change my
approach when collaborating with them to maximize our experience.
In conclusion, it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be to compile
this book. I had the opportunity to try some different protocols and collaborative-
building experiences. If anything, this book helps me to remember how important it
is to take time to be reflective and value my “pedagogical capital.”