Self-Reflection Strategies to Refine Math Instruction

A recent study indicates that when teachers engage in self-reflection, collaborate with colleagues and administrators, and foster a positive and safe environment for student feedback in their classrooms, it influences how they structure their teaching pedagogy. 

Let’s face it. It can be easy to get into a routine of teaching and not realize that, in reality, you’re really in just a rut. We think what we’re doing is working well if no major problems are occurring, but is it truly working? Or are we just cruising along a dead-end road on autopilot? 

Self-reflection can be like hitting the brakes to say, “Where am I? How did I get here? Where am I headed?” It can then serve like an ongoing GPS to keep you on track, even occasionally stating a needed “When possible, make a U-turn.”

Self-reflection is an essential tool for continuously improving your skills as a math teacher. It provides a means to identify areas of strength and areas where additional growth is needed. Self-reflection can also lead a teacher to research or develop strategies to address any current challenges they may be facing in the classroom. 

Here are some strategies to continuously improve the practice of self-reflection as a math teacher:

Regularly review student performance data and engagement 

One of the best ways to gauge the effectiveness of your teaching is to regularly review student performance data, such as summative and formative assessments, classwork, homework assignments, etc. By analyzing this data, you can identify patterns and trends in student understanding and tailor your teaching to address any areas of weakness. Through self-reflection, math teachers can also identify ways to make lessons more engaging and relevant to students. This can help to increase student motivation and interest in the subject. For tips and ideas, check out these ORIGO blog posts: Tips for Effectively Responding to Assessment Data, Assessment to Drive Student Learning, and Gauging Student Learning with Exit Tickets

Seek feedback from colleagues, administrators, and even students

It’s important to seek feedback from colleagues and administrators to gain different perspectives on your teaching practice. This feedback can provide valuable insights into what is going well and suggestions for improvement that you may not have considered on your own. Also, be willing to seek feedback from students on your teaching practice. By asking for their input, you can gain valuable insights into how they perceive your teaching and what strategies are most effective for their learning. It can also be an encouragement and confidence booster as you realize the impact your teaching is having on their learning journey and personal lives. 

Self-reflect on lesson planning and implementation

• After each lesson, take a moment to reflect on how the lesson went, what worked well, and what could be improved upon. Even a quick reflection can be effective to help identify areas where you may need to adjust teaching strategies or instructional planning. Be honest with yourself, but not overly critical. It is important to recognize both strengths and areas where you can continue growing as an educator. 
• Observe other teachers and objectively compare their teaching methods and effectiveness to your own. Keep in mind that everyone has their own personality, strengths, and areas where growth is needed. You aren’t meant to do everything exactly like that teacher, but you can always learn from them. 
• Reflect on student engagement during the lesson. Through self-reflection, math teachers can identify ways to make their lessons more engaging and relevant to students. This can help to increase student motivation and interest in the subject.
• Record yourself teaching. We all hear what we’re saying within our own minds, but what do we look like saying it? How are our facial expressions? Do we talk with our hands, fidget, focus on one area of the classroom more than another, etc.? Set up a phone in the back of your room to see yourself from the viewpoint of your students. Remember to be kind to yourself when you watch the video. We all have idiosyncrasies we are often unaware of. Some do not need to be fixed, while others may need to be decreased or eliminated, especially if they could be distracting to students or misunderstood (such as a scowl when thinking or frequently looking away when a student is speaking). 

Set personal goals for professional development

Setting personal goals for professional development can help you focus on areas where you want to improve as a math teacher. By setting specific, measurable goals, you can track progress and make adjustments as needed to achieve those goals. Need goal ideas? Try some of these: 23 Teacher Professional Goal Examples for 2024. Also, consider utilizing an accountability partner to help you stay on track to reach the goals you’ve set. This could be a colleague, educational coach/mentor, or a trusted friend or family member outside of school. We can all use guidance on how to continually grow as a teacher and a cheerleader to celebrate our achievements and encourage us to keep going when things are tough! 

Stay current on best practices in math education

What year did you graduate from college? Likely, education has changed in a variety of ways since then. Therefore, it is important to stay current on best practices in math education by attending professional development workshops, conferences, and seminars. By staying informed about the latest research and trends in math education, you can incorporate new strategies and techniques into your teaching practice. One of those best practices is to utilize the proven effectiveness of the Stepping Stones 2.0 Core Mathematics Program for grades K‒6. 

Have you considered reaching out to one of our experts at ORIGO’s Professional Learning Platform? As we talk with you directly, we can recommend individualized resources for you to utilize as part of your continued professional development and growth as a math teacher.