The Importance of Reflection in Education

As an educator, I’ve learned something later in my career that I wish I had understood from the start: the importance of reflection. If you’re anything like me, there have been countless times when you’ve looked back at a lesson you taught or how you handled a challenging situation and thought, I could do that so much better now.

I often reflect on my early days in the classroom and realize how much more effective I could be today with the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the years. The same is true for my time as a principal. I can’t count how many times I’ve thought about decisions I made or situations I dealt with and realized there was a better way to handle them.

But here’s the thing: had I taken the time to reflect earlier in my career, I might have improved in real-time, rather than years later. And yet, like so many of us in education, I often thought, Who has time for that? Between lesson plans, meetings, and the day-to-day whirlwind, reflection often felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford.

Now, with more years behind me than ahead in my career, I fully grasp how crucial reflection is. It shapes us, helps us grow, and ultimately, makes us better educators and leaders. Reflection is not just about looking back; it’s about using those insights to move forward. It’s the tool that allows us to be more intentional, thoughtful, and effective in everything we do.

If I could offer one piece of advice to new educators, it would be to carve out time for reflection. Don’t wait until years have passed to think about how you could have done something better. Reflect now. Your future self—and your students—will thank you.