Take Charge of Your Professional Growth

reflective teaching guide - goal setting and planning for instructional coaching

Have you heard that you can become an expert at anything in 10,000 hours?

Malcom Gladwell popularized this theory in his book, Outliers. But as much as I enjoy Gladwell’s stories, it turns out the 10,000 hour rule is a myth.

The idea that “practice makes perfect” is pervasive in education. It fools us into thinking that students need pages of exercises to master basic skills. Or that teaching expertise can be measured in “seat hours.”

The reality is that expertise doesn’t come from practice. It comes from deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is focused and intentional. It requires that we understand our strengths, and that we are willing to explore areas where we are less confident.

Through decades as a teacher and educator coach, I have found that the most successful teachers have one thing in common. And it’s not their style. It’s that every single one is skilled in the art of reflection.

They know their strengths. They know what is possible. They think deeply about their practice. And they’re driven to be the best they can be for their students.

The good news is that anyone can be a reflective educator. 

That’s why I created The Reflective Teaching Guide. To share what I’d learned from the most successful teachers I’ve known, and from my own 20,000 hours as an educator.

You’ll find stories of reflective educators and a new way to think about effective teaching. There are also self-assessment and goal-setting tools to help you take ownership of your professional growth.

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