Reflective Learning Journal
A reflection paper is not a summary of the course readings or a stream ofconscious mind dump on paper.Main themesReadingsIntegrateEffects on: ThinkingPracticeClassroomExperience1. As the diagram suggests, a reflection paper is your identification of the mainthemes of the readings integrated with your classroom experience and how bothaffect your thinking and practice.2. A reflection paper is your chance to add your thoughts and analysis to whatyou have read and experienced.3. A reflection paper is meant to illustrate your understanding of the material andhow it affects your ideas and possible practice in future.4. Begin by jotting down some of the reading material and class experiences thatstand out in your mind. Decide why they stand out to you.5. It may be helpful to use the restorative questions to generate some of yourthoughts and feelings about the course experience.6. Using the first person singular (“I”), relate the readings and classes to yourprevious knowledge and experience.7. Consider if and how what you have read and learned changes your thinkingand might affect your practice in both personal and professional situations.8. Review the readings and class notes to be sure you’ve included all therelevant information you can and made all the connections you can.9. Give your reflection paper structure with an opening paragraph, main body,and conclusion.10. It may be helpful to write the body of the paper first by using Steps 4-7, andthen decide what your opening paragraph should say. The opening paragraphmay be brief, only a sentence or two, but it should offer some overall statementof your perspective based on what you’ve learned (e.g., Before I read the articlesfor YC/ED 501, I had never considered that I was an authoritative supervisor, thatis, someone who gives my staff firm direction but little support.). Then you couldgo on to describe which readings or class experiences affected your thinking andwhy. You could disagree with some of the readings or ideas. The conclusion ofIIRP/4/6/10MM/BR/SOyour reflection may also be brief (e.g., I realize that I must learn how to be moresupportive to get the best from my staff.). Or it could be uncertain (e.g., I don’tagree with everything I learned but I am going to consider using some of thepractices in future to see if they change my office environment.).11. Include in-text references and a reference page for any materials you citeusing APA citation formatting.