How to Write a Teaching & Learning Reflective Essay

Instructions

Ask yourself what learning means to you and what qualifies as a successful learning situation. Make
sure to take note of what counts as concept mastery in your discipline, and think about how your
definition of learning coincides with that of your field. Also, consider whether or not your definition
of successful learning has changed over time.

Ask yourself some questions about teaching. What are your goals and aspirations as a teacher? Have
these goals changed over time? What are your beliefs about teaching, and how would you categorize
your role in the classroom? Think of analogies that might describe your behavior as a teacher. Are
you a coach? An entertainer?

Look back at your teaching goals and your definition of a successful learning situation. What steps
would you take/have you taken to reach these goals and attain successful learning in your classroom?
Think about specific assignments, course materials, lesson plans, assessment instruments and
student evaluations of your teaching.

Determine how you plan to continue developing as a teacher. Will you attend workshops? Will you
attend disciplinary meetings and/or conventions? Do you have plans to write a book or make
presentations in your discipline regarding your teaching methods?

Begin to organize and write your essay using the information you came up with during the first four
steps. The teaching and learning reflective essay is personal, and should be written in a first-person,
informal style. A personal anecdote can serve as an introduction to your teaching and learning goals
and philosophies, but is not mandatory.

After writing your introductory anecdote or general introduction, look back at Steps 1 through 4.
Give each of these steps its own paragraph or two in your essay so that your essay would be
organized as follows: Your definition of successful learning, your beliefs and goals as a teacher, and
descriptions of how your classroom activities and designs reflect your teaching goals and ideas on
successful learning. Finish with your ideas for continued professional development. Once you have
finished your essay, ask a seasoned teacher to read and respond to your reflection, and then make
any necessary revisions.

Tips & Warnings

Should you choose to start your essay with a personal anecdote, consider choosing a
story from your days as a student, rather than from your time as a teacher. You can
then make reference throughout the essay to your time as a student as a way to show
the reader how your student experiences have shaped your ideas about teaching and
learning.

If you are using your reflective essay as part of a job application, check with the
school in question to see if they have a specific format for teaching essays. If you are

using your reflective essay as an introduction to a teaching portfolio for tenure review,
your department or school may have a specific format they want you to follow in
writing the essay, or they may mandate that you address specific qualities of your
teaching.