Return to: U of M Home

Skip to main content.University of Minnesota, System Wide Home Page

One Stop | Directories | Search U of M

Clinical Experiences Handbook College of Education & Human Development Student Services

Student Services
110 Wulling Hall - 86 Pleasant St. SE - Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
Tel: 612-625-6501 - Fax: 612-626-1580

Context for reflective conferencing

To successfully complete reflective conferencing it is essential to establish trust with your student teacher. Your student teacher may be confused about some of the requirements in the program and how they relate to the requirements of your classroom. In this situation you will want to demonstrate consistency and fairness in your dealings.

You can go along way to accomplishing this by developing and communicating clear expectations for your student teacher’s performance. To help your student teacher really examine his or her own teaching you will want to express your desire for your students’ success?

Some questions for eliciting reflection

In general:

  • Overall, how do you think the lesson went? Why?

  • In what ways do you think the lesson met your intended objectives or outcomes?

  • What did you observe about the students as you taught—what kind (or level) of learning that was going on?

  • What would you like to do differently next time?

  • What are some skills or strategies you think you need to improve your teaching?

To clarify or probe:

  • What do you mean when you said (or did)______?

  • I observed ________, what did you intend?

  • I observed________, what do you think was happening?

  • What are the assumptions behind_______?

  • What are you assuming about_______?

  • On what have you based your reasoning?

References:

Danielson, C. (1998) Enhancing professional practice: A framework for teaching. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Paul, R., Binker, A., Martin, D, & Adamson, K. (1989) Critical thinking handbook: A guide for redesigning instruction. Rohnert Park, CA: Sonoma State University.

Revised August 2003

©2008 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Last modified on September 30, 2008