Art of Reflective Teaching

The Art of Reflective Teaching examines what it means to be present in one’s teaching. The book begins with an in-depth definition of presence from several different angles. The text goes on to delineate what a teacher may be present to, providing a map for useful discussions among teachers and between teachers and students. The book then outlines the structure of reflection, its intentional practice, and its importance to presence. Finally, it provides a detailed outline for teaching presence to new and preservice teachers. Rodgers’s curriculum integrates mindfulness practice with reflection, using presence as a bridge between the two. Drawing on her own experiences and those of her students, the author demonstrates how reflective teaching is grounded in a living and evolving philosophy of practice.Book Features:Shows educators how to mentally and emotionally connect themselves to their students, their classroom, and their teaching.Provides a tested structure for reflective practice based on the work of both John Dewey and the author’s own practice.Includes a course outline for teaching presence that can be used by teacher educators, professional developers, and teacher inquiry groups.>

"Reading Carol Rodgers's book The Art of Reflective Teaching: Practicing Presence is like being invited into a space where teaching becomes more expansive and where the reader once again believes that teachers can do profoundly important and transformative work."--Democracy & Education, "Carol Rodgers presents here an informative and engaging discussion of teacher education and provides a lot of the 'whys' of what happens in schools and what can happen. The author is as at home talking about Dewey as she is discussing Freire and Piaget. From the standpoint of more philosophical levels of educational theory, Rodgers is right on with the way she brings together these and other experts who have spent their whole lives striving to find better and more equitable approaches to teaching."--Critical Issues in Teacher Education, "Thoughtful, inspiring, and full of ideas to think about and put into practice."--Teachers College Record

Carol R. Rodgers is associate professor of education at the State University of New York at Albany.