Reflection

In an increasingly hectic society there seems to be little time to reflect.  It seems like if we aren't actively doing something we are wasting our time.  I think that we need to rethink that mentality so that we can allow for reflection.  We hear a lot about the importance of learning from our mistakes but you will never learn from the mistake if you don't reflect about what you did wrong and how you can improve.  Reflection doesn't need to be in any specific format, it can be discussion with friends and family, writing in a journal or just spending time alone to think.  I think that all of these methods can be helpful.  Different methods work for different people and different methods work in different situations. 
Not only is it important for teachers to reflect in order to improve their teaching it is important that teachers encourage their students to reflect as well.  This is a skill that will be useful in all situations, academic or otherwise.  In my opinion reflection is a learned skill and like so many other skills, it is easier to learn as a child.  For this reason teachers need to emphasize reflection by adding in time for both the students and the teacher to reflect about anything from the work in the classroom to current events.