In my journey as a teacher, I've found some helpful ideas for thinking about our teaching. Here are a few key concepts that really stick out to me:

1. Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory: This is a classic idea! Kolb believes that we learn through our experiences. He describes a cycle with four steps:

   • Having a real experience
   • Thinking about that experience
   • Understanding the ideas behind it
   • Trying out new ways based on what we learned
     It’s like a guide for looking back at our teaching—seeing what worked, what didn’t, and figuring out how to improve next time.

2. Schön's Reflective Practice: Schön talks about two types of reflection: "reflection-in-action" and "reflection-on-action." This means we can think about our teaching while we are doing it (in-action), and also after we finish (on-action). This method helps us keep learning and adjusting our teaching, which I've found super helpful.

3. Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory: This idea is deeper. It focuses on how thinking critically can change how we see things. As we think about our teaching, we can challenge our own beliefs. This not only helps us grow but also benefits our students. Taking the time to reflect deeply can lead to better teaching.

4. Brookfield’s Four Lenses: Brookfield suggests that we look at our teaching from multiple viewpoints—our own, our students’, our colleagues’, and ideas from books and research. This helps us avoid getting stuck in our own thoughts. He believes that looking through these different lenses can help us discover things we might have missed.

Using these ideas together makes reflecting on our teaching richer and more meaningful. It becomes more than just checking a box for assessments; it turns into a journey that helps us grow as teachers and benefits our students. By engaging with these concepts, I've been able to see my teaching in new ways and push myself to improve.